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Potatoes: 
AMoncy  Crop 

George  D.Leaven5,B.S, 


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Published  by 

TheCoe-Mortimcr  Company 

New  York 


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POTATOES:  A  Money  Crop 

How  to  Grow,  Fertilize,  Spray  and 
Harvest  them  at  a  Profit 


By  GEORGE  D.  LEAVENS.  B.  S. 

Formerly  of  the  Department  of  Fertilizers,  Massachusetts  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 


CONTAINING 

The  Story  of  A  Profitable  Potato  Crop 

By  B.  H.  WARD 
Aroostook  County,  Maine 


Published  by  The  Coe-Mortimer  Company,  New  York 


Copyright  1914 
THE  COE-MORTIMER  CO. 

New  York 


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POTATOES:    A    MONEY  CROP. 

How    to    Grow,    Fertilize,    Spray    and    Harvest   them    at   a    Profit. 

By  George  D.  Lea.vens, 


N  MANY  FARMS  throughout  the  country, 
potatoes  are  the  chief  money  crop,  and  if 
properly  raised  are  not  only  a  source  of  profit 
themselves,  but  also  improve  the  land  for  crops 
that   are   to   follow. 

The  great  value  of  the  potato  as  one  of  our 
staple  articles  of  food,  makes  economical  pro- 
duction of  extreme  importance. 

In  preparing  this  booklet,  it  is  not  the  vv^rit- 
er's  purpose  to  over-burden  potato  growers  with 
superfluous  advice.  It  is  hoped  rather  to  sum- 
marize for  the  friends  and  customers  of  the  Coe- 
Mortimer  Company  and  for  fertilizer  users  in  general,  the  results  of  the 
writer's  own  experience  in  raising  potatoes  covering  many  years  of  practical 
farm  life,  together  with  the  results  of  his  observation  of  the  best  practice 
of  prominent   growers   in  various   sections. 


SOILS. 

Potatoes  will  succeed  on  a  variety  of  soils,  doing  best  on  a  medium 
to  light  loam.  Early  crops  of  potatoes  are,  however,  raised  at  a  great  profit 
on  light  and  sandy"  soils,  while  heavy  soils  will  give  profitable  crops  of  late 
potatoes,   provided  that  such   soils   are   well  drained. 

It  is,  however,  useless  to  attempt  to  grow  potatoes  at  a  profit  on  wet, 
heavy  and  ill-drained  soils.  Such  soils,  however,  may  be  rendered  suitable 
for  potato  growing  by  a  thorough  system  of  drainage  and  subsequent  plow- 
ing  in   of  green  crops. 

In  general  heavy  clay  soils  are  unsuitable  for  potatoes,  the  tubers  being 
soggy,   poorly   shaped,    and   subject   to   rot. 

Potatoes  as  a  rule  give  the  largest  yields  upon  new  soils;  that  is  land 
just  taken  up  from  grass  or  clover.  This  is  not  true  of  all  conditions,  how- 
ever, as  on  heavy  soils  where  the  sod  is  extremely  tough,  the  potato  crop 
may  be  preceded   by   a   crop   of   corn. 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


The  Genuine  Early  Rose  still  remains  the  standard  early  variety,  and 
is  too  well  known  to  need  particular  description.  Though  costing  more 
than  some  of  the  cheaper  red  varieties  (which  are  often  substituted  and 
branded  as  Early  Rose) ,  they  are  still  raised  at  their  best  throughout  Northern 
Aroostook  County,  and  strangely  enough,  are  fast  superseding  some  of  the 
more   recently   introduced   early   red   sorts. 

The  Ohio  Experiment  Station  Bulletin,  No.  1  74,  gives  the  remarkable 
record  that,  among  1  50  sorts  tested,  it  was  among  ten  which  gave  the  heaviest 
yield,  and  also  among  the  same  number  which  gave  the  heaviest  yield  for 
three   consecutive   seasons. 

(By    courtesy    of     the    E.    L.    Cleveland    Co.,     Houlton,     Me.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


THE  PLACE  OF  THE  POTATO  CROP  IN  SYSTEM 

OF  ROTATION. 

The  place  of  the  potato  crop  in  system  of  rotation  depends  in  a  large 
measure  upon  the  character  of  the  soil  and  the  practice  of  the  grower.  As 
already  indicated,  if  the  land  is  in  a  heavy  sod,  a  crop  of  corn  should  precede 
the  crop  of  potatoes.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  sod  is  light  or  consists 
largely  of  clover,  it  should  be  plowed  under  in  the  fall,  and  the  potato  crop 
planted   the   following  spring. 

The  rotation  that  is  followed  by  many  successful  farmers  in  New 
England  is  the  following:  Potatoes,  corn,  grass,  and  clover,  for  two  years. 
In  this  case  the  grass  is  seeded  in  the  corn  at  the  time  of  the  last  cultivation. 
Another  very  good  rotation  in  New  England  is  corn,  potatoes,  rye  and  clover. 

In  Aroostook  County,  Maine,  where  the  soil  is  in  general  a  rich, 
gravelly  loam,  it  is  the  custom  to  follow  potatoes  with  a  seeding  to  oats 
and  grass.  The  spring  seeding  to  oats  and  grass  is  more  generally  successful 
in  this  section  than  elsewhere  in  northeastern  United  States,  because  of  the 
comparatively  cool  summers  that  prevail.  For  this  reason  the  young  grass 
plants  are  not  burned  and  shrivelled  when  deprived  of  the  shade  given  by 
the   oat  crop. 

The  favorite  rotation  with  New  Jersey  farmers,  is  corn,  upon  which  all 
the  stable  manure  produced  upon  the  farm  is  used,  potatoes,  upon  which  a 
large  application  of  high-grade  fertilizers  is  used,  followed  by  wheat,  seeded 
with  clover  and  timothy.  The  land  is  kept  in  grass  for  two  years  and  then 
plowed   up    for   corn   once   more. 

It  is  evident  that  this  rotation  would  not  be  successful  in  the  New 
England  states,  nor  in  Central  and  Northern  New  York,  as  the  potatoes 
are  not  harvested  early  enough  to  afford  sufficient  time  for  proper  seeding 
to  the  wheat  and  grass.  This  rotation  is,  however,  an  excellent  one  for 
Pennsylvania. 

Market  gardeners  on  Long  Island  pay  little  attention  to  the  rotation 
of  crops,  but  raise  potatoes  after  turnips,  or  any  market  garden  crop  that 
seems   suitable   to   them. 

PREPARATION  OF  THE  SOIL. 

Fall  plowing  is  generally  best  for  medium  to  heavy  soils  that  have  a 
tough  sod,  while  for  light  soils  that  are  easily  dried  out  and  are  subject  to 
drought  in  summer,  spring  plowing  may  be  preferable.  The  careful  grower 
will   readily  determine  which   is  the  proper  practice   for   his  conditions. 

Plow  at  least  eight  inches  deep;  ten  inches  deep  is  much  better.  In 
many  cases  it  will  be  an  advantage  to  follow  the  turning  plow  with  a  sub- 
soil plow,   but  it  is  not  desirable  to  turn  up   any  of  the  subsoil  itself. 

Harrow  thoroughly  in  order  that  all  old  growth  may  be  completely 
killed  out  and  that  the  soil  may  be  thoroughly  mellowed  up  previous  to 
the  planting  of  the  crop.  The  harrow  should  be  arranged  so  that  it  will 
cut   seven   inches   down   if   possible. 

Harrowing  with  a  heavy  cutaway  disk  harrow  fits  the  land  admirably 
for  the  potato  crop.      It  is   the  practice  of  some  growers  to  level  the  fields 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


EARLY  NEW  QUEEN 

A  very  popular  early  variety,  closely  resembling  its  parent,  the  Beauty 
of  Hebron;  in  fact,  requiring  an  expert  to  determine  one  from  the  other. 
Under  high  cultivation  there  are  very  few  small  ones.  In  quality  it  is 
excellent,  the  flesh  being  a  pure  white,  and  of  that  sparkling  mealy  texture 
and   fine  flavor  so  much  to  be  desired   in  a  table   Potato. 

Regarded  as  one  of  the  very  best  for  hotel  and  high-class  trade. 

(By  courtesy   of   the   E.   L.   Cleveland   Co.,   Houlton,    Me.) 


POTATOES:    A^  MONEY    CROP 


before  planting  by  means  of  a  spike  tooth  harrow,  but  this  is  not  absolutely 
essential. 

Thorough  preparation  of  the  soil  is  extremely  important,  as  it  not  only 
prepares  a  proper  seed  bed  for  the  crop,  but  also  warms  the  soil  so  that 
plants  start  vigorously,  and  prevents  in  a  great  measure  the  wasteful  loss  of 
soil   moisture   by   evaporation   from   the   surface. 

PREPARATION  OF  THE  SEED  FOR  PLANTING. 

If  the  crop  is  to  be  an  exceptionally  early  one,  the  writer  has  found 
it  extremely  profitable  to  treat  the  seed  potatoes  with  formalin,  dry  in  the 
sun  and  then  spread  them  out  in  a  warm  loft  for  from  three  to  five  weeks 
previous   to  planting. 

By  this  means  the  potatoes  become  thoroughly  warmed,  and  start  short, 
stout  green  sprouts,  which  will  not  be  rubbed  off  in  the  cutting  of  the  seed 
if  the  potatoes  are  handled  carefully.  This  extra  care  is  well  worth  while 
when  a  portion  of  the  potato  crop  is  planted  for  extra  early  market. 

The  seed  potatoes  for  the  main  crop  are  rarely  if  ever  put  through 
the  sprouting  process  referred  to.  However,  whether  for  early  crop  or  main 
crop,  the  seed  potatoes  should  receive  the  formalin  treatment  for  prevention 
of   "scab"   as  folloVPs: 

Soak  the  potatoes  for  two  hours  in  a  solution  of  one  pound  of  formalin 
(formaldehyde),  in  30  gallons  of  water.  Formalin  may  be  obtained  at  any 
drug  store,  and  by  using  large  half  hogsheads  or  tanks  the  potatoes  may 
be  soaked  in  the  solution  mentioned  while  tied  up  in  two  bushel  sacks  with 
very  little  trouble.  They  should  then  be  spread  out  in  a  sunny  place  to  dry, 
after  which  they  are  ready  for  cutting.  This  treatment  kills  the  germs  of 
the  potato   "scab." 

Care  should  be  taken,  however,  not  to  put  the  treated  seed  potatoes 
into  bags,  boxes  or  barrels  that  have  previously  contained  scabby  potatoes. 
If  this  is  done,  the  treated  seed  will  become  re-infected  with  the  germs  of 
the  "scab,"  and  the  effects  of  the  treatment  will  be  in  a  large  measure 
undone. 

When  very  large  quantities  of  seed  potatoes  are  to  be  treated,  the 
following  method  may  be  used  in  quantities  up  to  a  carload.  A  tight  room 
or  building  is  provided  and  in  this  the  seed  potatoes  are  placed  in  bushel 
crates  or  shallow  slat-work  bins.  Procure  a  quantity  of  potassium  per- 
manganate and  a  quantity  of  formalin  (formaldehyde),  the  same  as  previ- 
ously referred  to.  For  each  1 ,000  cubic  feet  in  the  room  or  building. 
allow  23  ounces  of  the  potassium  permanganate  and  3  pints  (3  pounds)  of 
the  formalin.  Spread  the  potassium  permanganate  evenly  over  the  bottom 
of  a  shallow  pan  or  pail,  placed  in  the  center  of  the  room,  and  pour  the 
formalin  over  the  permanganate  quickly.  Close  the  room  immediately  and 
do   not   open   again    for    from   24   to   48   hours. 

The  potassium  permanganate  drives  the  formalin  gas  out  of  the  solution 
and  this  gas  penetrates  to  every  crevice  in  the  room,  and  everywhere  exer- 
cises  its   disinfecting  work   in   killing  the   "scab"   germs. 

The  necessary  precautions  are  to  observe  the  proportions  mentioned 
above,  to  use  a  dish  or  pan  that  has  a  wide  bottom,  to  be  sure  that  the  sides 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


of  the  dish  or  pan  are  sufficiently  high  to  prevent  boiling  over,  and  to  avoid 
placing  the  dish  or  pan  directly  under  any  boxes  or  trays  containing  potatoes 
to  be  treated. 

The  preventive  treatment  for  potato  scab  described  above  will  of  course 
be  time  and  money  wasted  if  the  scab  germs  are  already  present  in  the  soil 
to  be  planted.  The  importance  of  planting  on  clean  land  cannot  be  over- 
emphasized. A  more  complete  description  of  the  potato  scab  will  be  found 
in  the  discussion  of  the  "Enemies  and  Diseases  of  the  Potato,"  later  in  this 
booklet. 

CUTTING  SEED  POTATOES. 

There  has  been  a  great  deal  written  and  said  about  various  ways  of 
cutting  seed  potatoes,  and  many  growers  insist  that  they  should  be  cut  accord- 
ing to  certain  methods.  Practical  experience  shows,  however,  that  potatoes 
may  be  cut  very  rapidly  in  almost  any  way,  provided  that  the  pieces  average 
about  two  eyes  to  a  piece,  and  provided  that  each  piece  includes  a  good 
portion  of  the  flesh   of  the  potato. 

The  young  potato  plant  draws  its  food  from  the  cutting  until  the  roots 
can  develop  sufficiently  to  begin  to  take  up  nourishment  from  the  soil;  hence 
the  importance  of  having  a  good  amount  of  flesh  with  each  cutting. 

As  fast  as  the  potatoes  are  cut  up,  the  cuttings  should  be  dusted 
thoroughly  with  either  fine  ground  land  plaster  or  flowers  of  sulphur  (finely 
powdered  sulphur),  or  a  mixture  of  both.  The  plaster  keeps  the  cut  pieces 
from  wilting  and  they  may  be  kept  for  a  considerable  time  before  planting 
without  suffering  any  damage.  The  sulphur  is  regarded  by  many  growers 
as  an  additional  protection  against  "scab."  In  the  light  of  recent  investiga- 
tions concerning  the  large  amount  of  sulphur  utilized  by  growing  plants,  it 
is  not  improbable  and  is,  in  fact,  quite  likely,  that  sulphur  thus  used  may 
be  of  some  direct  value  as  a  source  of  plant  food. 

Discard  for  seed  purposes  any  and  all  potatoes  showing  signs  of  disease 
of  any  sort.  Do  not  cut  sound  seed  potatoes  with  a  knife  that  has  been 
used  on  diseased  potatoes  without  first  washing  the  knife  thoroughly  in  a 
strong   solution   of    formahn. 

PLANTING. 

The  soil  having  been  deeply  pulverized,  the  crop  may  be  planted  in 
one   of   two   ways.     First: 

Hand  Planting.  This  is  a  slow  and  expensive  process  and  should 
be  used  only  for  work  in  home  gardens  or  small  fields.  The  land  may 
be  furrowed  out  in  rows  three  feet  apart  and  the  fertilizer  spread  m  the 
furrows  carefully  mixed  with  the  soil  by  means  of  a  hoe  or  bush. 

The  seed  pieces  should  then  be  dropped  by  hand  from  ten  to  twelve 
inches  apart  in  the  furrow.  The  potatoes  may  then  be  covered,  either  by 
hand   hoes,   or   by   a   horse   hoe.     Second: 

Planting  with  Machines.  On  large  fields,  it  is  decidedly  more 
economical  to  use  potato  planting  machines.  In  fact,  growing  on  any  ex- 
tensive  scale   is   impossible   without   them.      The    machine   opens   the    furrow, 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


drops  the  seed,  and  applies  the  fertihzer  mixed  thoroughly  with  the  soil, 
all  as  fast  as  a  pair  of  horses  will  walk  across  the  field. 

Further,  in  planting  by  machine,  the  spacing  of  the  seed  in  the  furrow 
is  very  easily  regulated,  and  the  proper  amount  of  fertilizer  can  be  applied 
by  changing  the  gauge.  Hand  labor  is  far  too  costly  to  use  in  growing 
a  potato  crop,  and  in  working  on  a  commercial  scale  it  is  not  necessary  to 
use  any  hand  labor  in  the  field,  other  than  that  of  picking  up  the  potatoes 
after  digging.  Five  to  six  acres  is  generally  considered  a  good  day's  work 
when  planting  by  machine. 

How  Deep  Shall  We  Plant?  The  depth  of  planting  depends 
on  several  factors.  If  the  potatoes  are  intended  for  extra  early  crop,  they 
should  not  be  planted  so  deep  as  if  intended  for  the  main  crop.  Early 
in  the  season,  the  sun's  rays  have  not  thoroughly  warmed  the  lower  layers 
of  the  soil.  The  upper  layers,  therefore,  are  more  suitable  for  forcing 
the   early   crop. 

The  main  crop,  however,  may  be  planted  at  a  depth  of  from  three  to 
five  inches.  The  depth  of  planting  depends  also  in  a  great  measure  on  the 
character  of  the  soil.  On  warm,  light  sandy  soils  in  New  Jersey  and  on 
Long  Island  (or  in  similar  soils  elsewhere),  deep  planting  is  desirable.  The 
same  is  true  of  medium  to  light  potato  loams  in  Pennsylvania,  New  York 
State  and  New  England  in  general,   except  Aroostook  County,   Maine. 

In  Aroostook  County,  Maine,  planting  is  comparatively  shallow  near 
the  warm  surface  of  the  soil.  As  the  plants  grow,  the  soil  is  hilled  up  till 
a  very  high  ridge  is  finally  made.  Deep  planting  on  the  light  soils  insures 
a  supply  of  moisture  during  hot,  dry  weather,  and  in  general  deep  planting 
is  to  be  strongly  preferred,  with  the  exceptions  that  we  have  mentioned. 

How  Far  Apart  Shall  We  Plant?  Until  recently,  the  practice 
was  to  plant  in  rows  36  inches  apart,  with  the  seed  pieces  from  12  to  15 
inches  apart  in  the  row.  When  planted  at  these  distances,  however,  the 
land  is  not  utilized  to  the  best  advantage  for  the  production  of  a  maximum 
crop. 

Further,  many  unmarketable  potatoes  are  grown,  due  to  their  being 
over-sized.  The  market  demands  potatoes  of  a  moderate  and  uniform  size 
and  potatoes  too  large  are  as  objectionable  as  are  potatoes  that  are  too  small. 

Therefore  the  best  practice  now  is  to  space  the  rows  32  inches  apart 
and  to  drop  the  potato  pieces  in  the  row  from  9  to  1 0  inches  apart.  This, 
of  course,  requires  a  larger  quantity  of  seed  (about  1 6  to  17  bushels  per 
acre),  but  this  is  more  than  paid  for  in  the  greatly  increased  crop  and  in 
the   more   uniform   size   of   the   potatoes. 

Many  of  the  best  commercial  potato  growers  consider  that  it  takes 
from  1 50  to  200  bushels  of  potatoes  to  pay  the  cost  of  raising  the  crop 
and  that   the  profit  is   derived   from  the  crop   in   excess  of  these  amounts, 

CULTIVATION. 

The  objects  of  cultivation  are  twofold.  First,  to  keep  the  seed  bed 
loose  and  retain  moisture  for  the  growing  crop,  and  second,  to  destroy  the 
weeds  which,  if  unchecked,  choke  out  the  potatoes  and  rob  them  of  fertility. 
The    following   is   a   method   of   cultivation    applicable   to   average   conditions 


10 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


IRISH  COBBLER 

The  Irish  Cobbler  is  one  of  the  most  reliable,  and  fast  becoming  one 
of  the  most  popular,  of  the  early  varieties.  It  is  of  handsome  cream-white 
color,  and  of  excellent  quality,  making  it  most  desirable  for  the  best  trade. 
It  is  a  vigorous  grower,  ripens  uniformly,  and  a  good  keeper;  in  short, 
the  best  all-round,  early  potato  now  on  the  market. 

(By    courtesy    of     the    E.    L.    Cleveland    Co.,     Houllon,     Me.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


where  deep  planting  is  practised.  The  writer  has  found  this  method  to  be 
convenient   and   profitable: 

Soon  after  planting,  the  field  should  be  gone  over  with  a  spike  tooth 
harrow  or  weeder  which  kills  the  early  crop  of  weeds  and  makes  a  good 
surface  mulch  of  loose  soil.  Cultivation  should  be  kept  up  regularly 
throughout  the  growing  season,  until  the  vines  commence  to  blossom.  The 
ground  should  then  be  entirely  free  from  weeds  and  cultivation  should  cease. 

The  weeder  is  an  excellent  implement  for  the  cultivation  of  potatoes 
while  the  vines  are  small.  Later  cultivation  may  be  carried  on  by  means 
of  an  ordinary  walking  cultivator,  by  means  of  the  riding  cultivator,  or 
with   Prout's   Horse  Hoe,   which  is  a   first-class   tool   for  hilling  up. 

Prout's  horse  hoe  throws  up  a  broad  low  ridge  of  soil  which  under 
general  conditions  is  far  better  for  potatoes  than  the  sharp  pointed  narrow 
ridge  which  we  often  see.  For  large  fields,  the  riding  cultivator  is  prac- 
tically  a  necessity. 

Cultivation  in  Aroostook  County.  (Also  suitable  for  extra 
earl^  potatoes  elsewhere.)  In  Aroostook  County,  where  planting  is  relatively 
shallow,  a  different  method  of  cultivation  is  followed.  Sometimes  a  weeder 
or  bush  harrow  is  used  to  level  down  the  earth  left  in  ridges  over  the 
rows,  by  the  planter.  This  serves  two  purposes;  first,  it  destroys  small  weeds 
and  levels  and  pulverizes  the  soil;  second,  it  brings  the  sunlight  and  air 
nearer  to  the  seed  pieces.  Frequently,  however,  this  step  in  the  cultivation 
is   omitted. 

Whether  the  step  described  above  is  practised  or  not,  it  is  the  general 
custom  to  completely  bury  up  the  young  plants  as  soon  as  they  break 
through  the  surface  of  the  soil.  This  burying  up  process  is  one  that  is 
practised  almost  exclusively  in  the  State  of  Maine,  and  especially  in  Aroostook 
County.  As  soon  as  the  young  plants  are  up  so  that  the  rows  may  be  clearly 
seen,  the  horse  hoes  are  started  and  the  burying  up  process  carried  on  as 
rapidly   as   possible. 

This  is  the  proper  time  to  make  a  secondary  application  of  fertilizer 
should  one  be  desired.  In  this  case,  instead  of  using  the  horse  hoe,  the 
potato  planting  machine  can  be  used,  taking  off  both  the  plows,  but  leaving 
on   the   disc   covers   and   the   fertilizer   attachment. 

Whichever  is  used  for  this  work,  the  horse  hoe  or  the  potato  planting 
machine,  the  hills  should  be  broad  and  low,  and  the  plants  should  be  cov- 
ered with  about  two  to  three  inches  of  fine  mellow  earth.  Subsequent  culti- 
vation is  given  with  riding  cultivators  until  the  last  and  final  cultivation, 
given  just  as  the  plants  are  about  to  come  into  bloom.  At  this  cultivation, 
the  earth  should  be  thrown  up  into  high  ridges  with  the  horse  hoe. 

FERTILIZATION. 

The  potato  is  not  a  good  "hustler"  for  its  plant  food.  Its  root  system 
is  relatively  restricted,  and  therefore  the  crop  requires  plant  food  in  extremely^ 
available    forms,   as   well   as   in   great   abundance. 

One  of  the  best  known  agricultural  authorities  in  the  State  of  Maine, 
is  Dr.  G.  M.  Twitchell.  He  writes  as  follows  in  regard  to  fertilizers  for 
potatoes: 


12 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


ENSIGN  BAGLEY,  or  WHITE  ROSE 

One  of  the  handsomest  white  early  varieties  on  the  market.  Round 
to  oblong  in  shape,  and  in  quality  all  that  can  be  desired.  An  excellent 
cropper;  smooth  and  not  susceptible  to  disease.  In  good  demand  for  market 
use. 

In  earliness  they  compare  with  early  Harvest,  Early  Rose  and  New 
Queens. 

(By  courtesy  of   the   E.   L.  Cleveland  Co.,   Houlton,    Me.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  13 

"One  ton  to  the  acre  is  the  general  rule  on  old  land.  One-half  broad- 
cast at  the  last  harrowing,  one-fourth  in  the  planter,  and  the  remainder 
broadcast  just  as  the  potatoes  break  the  ground.  No  man  can  afford  to 
l:ave  bis  potato  roots  search  for  food.  It  may  not  require  the  ton  to  grow 
300  bushels  of  potatoes,  but  much  less  will  fail  to  do  the  work  desired,  because 
the  supply  in,  through  and  about  the  hill  is  not  abundant."  {Pennsylvania 
Farmer,  May   17,    1913.) 

It  is  a  significant  fact  that  the  most  successful  potato  growers,  whether 
in  Maine,  Long  Island,  New  Jersey,  Massachusetts  or  elsewhere,  are  using 
from  1500  pounds  to  one  ton  per  acre  of  the  highest  grades  of  potato 
fertilizers  obtainable.  In  localities  where  potato  growing  has  not  reached 
a  successful  development  on  a  commercial  scale,  we  find  only  from  500  to 
800  pounds  of  fertilizer  being  used,  through  a  mistaken  idea  on  the  part 
of  the  growers  that  they  "cannot  afford"  to  use  more. 

In  this  connection,  the  statements  of  the  late  Professor  Edward  B. 
Voorhees,  contained  in  an  article  written  shortly  before  his  death,  have 
especial  interest.  Professor  Voorhees  was  well  known  to  the  farmers  of 
this  country  as  the  Director  of  the  New  Jersey  Experiment  Station,  and  as 
one  of  the  leading  fertilizer  authorities  of  the  world. 

Professor  Voorhees  said  In  an  article  entitled  "Fertilizers  for  Potatoes" 
prepared  especially  for  the  American  Fertilizer  Magazine: 

"High  Average  Yields  Due  to  Commercial  Fertilizers.  The 
cause  of  the  difference  in  yield  between  70  bushels  or  less  and  1  50  or  more, 
1?  due  largely  to  the  mtelligent  use  of  commercial  fertilizers;  even  our 
best  soils  in  their  natural  condition,  while  they  may  contain  enough  total 
plant  food,  are  not  supplied  with  a  sufficiency  of  the  right  kind  at  the 
right  time,  and  because  yard  manures  are  neither  sufficient  in  quantity  nor 
properly  adjusted  in  respect  to  plant  food  to  meet  the  requirements  in  the 
best  manner,  recourse  must  be  had  to  artificial  supplies  or  fertilizers." 
{American  Fertilizer,  ^&xc\\%,  1913.) 

STABLE  MANURE  UNSUITABLE  FOR  POTATOES. 

Not  only  is  it  true  that  stable  manure  provides  a  badly  balanced 
ration  for  potatoes,  as  mentioned  by  Professor  Voorhees,  but  it  is  also 
true  that  the  use  of  stable  manure  encourages  the  development  and  growth 
of  the  potato  scab.  This  is  one  of  the  diseases  of  the  crop  against  which 
the   careful   grower   must   constantly   guard. 

It  may  possibly  occur  to  our  readers  that  since  the  writer  is  now  engaged 
in  the  fertilizer  business,  he  is  prejudiced  against  stable  manure.  Such  is 
not  the  case.  The  writer  strongly  advocates  the  use  of  stable  manure, 
especially  upon  corn,  cabbages,  mangels,  and  other  crops;  but  has  found 
from  his  own  experience  and  from  his  observation  on  the  farms  of  others, 
that  stable  manure  is  entirely  unsuitable  for  use  upon  potatoes. 

The  best  crops  and  the  most  profitable  crops  are  raised  on  high-grade 
commercial  fertilizers.  In  this  connection.  Professor  Alva  Agee,  formerly 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Agricultural  College,  and  now  of  the  New  Jersey 
Agricultural   College,   writes   as    follows: 


14  POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP       

"The  Use  of  Manure.  The  market  wants  a  potato  that  is  clean 
in  appearance,  and  the  disease  known  as  potato  scab  is  one  of  the  grower's 
worst  enemies.  It  develops  rapidly  if  any  infection  occurs  in  ground  that 
has  been  heavily  manured.  Fresh  stable  manure  is  a  good  medium  for  its 
increase.  This  is  one  reason  why  some  growers  plant  potatoes  after  corn, 
applying  manure  on  the  sod  and  then  spending  one  year  in  rotting  the  manure 
and  the  sod.  It  is  a  good  rotation  wherever  the  ground  is  kept  sufficiently 
fertile."      (National  Stockman  and  Farmer,   May    16,    1912.) 

Directions  for  treating  seed  potatoes  for  prevention  of  scab  have  already 
been  given  in  our  discussion  of  "Preparation  of  the  Seed   for  Planting." 

WHICH  SHALL  WE  USE:   HOME  MIXED  OR 
READY  MIXED  FERTILIZERS? 

This  question  opens  up  a  subject  concerning  which  there  has  been 
considerable  controversy  at  various  times  in  the  agricultural  journals.  The 
writer's  reply,  based  on  many  years'  experience  as  a  practical  farmer,  and 
as   a    fertilizer   manufacturer,   is   this: 

Use  ready  mixed,  high  grade  fertilizers  prepared  by  first  class  reputable 
companies;  but  avoid  cheap  and  low  grade  fertilizers  which  have  no  special 
fitness    for   the   potato   crop. 

Lest  it  appear  that  the  writer  is  prejudiced  or  biased  on  this  subject, 
we  wish  to  present  the  opinions  of  a  disinterested  party,  namely,  Mr.  E.  A. 
Rogers  of  Brunswick,  Me.,  who  is  a  practical  potato  grower  on  a  large 
scale  and  who  is  so  well  recognized  as  an  authority  on  potato  growing, 
that  in  1 9 1  0  he  prepared  a  special  bulletin  on  potato  culture,  for  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  Department  of  Agriculture.  Mr.  Rogers'  opinions,  therefore, 
carry  weight  as  representing  the  ideas  of  thoroughly  practical  potato  growers 
who  are  engaged  in  this  business  on  a  large  commercial  scale: 

"There  is  quite  a  fad  in  some  sections  among  potato  growers  to  buy 
chemicals  and  mix  their  own  fertilizer;  some  claiming  a  great  saving  in  cost. 
Those  making  this  claim  are  almost  invariably  those  who  have  been  buying 
the  cheaper  brands  of  fertilizers,  and  paying  much  more  for  them  than  the 
analysis  would  warrant.  Again,  home-mixed  goods  of  the  same  analysis 
seldom  give  as  good  results  in  the  field  as  do  those  mixed  by  the  manufacturer. 

"For  instance,  a  farmer  buying  chemicals  in  comparatively  small 
amounts,  seldom  gets  his  material  in  as  many  different  forms  as  the  manu- 
facturer has  on  hand.  In  the  case  of  nitrogen,  for  example,  the  grower 
who  buys  chemicals  seldom  gets  his  nitrogen  from  but  two  sources,  usually 
nitrate  of  soda  and  tankage,  while  the  fertilizer  manufacturer,  having  other 
sources  readily  at  hand,  makes  up  part  of  the  nitrogen  content  out  of  these, 
thereby  coming  much  nearer  to  giving  the  growing  crop  a  steady,  moderate 
supply   the   season   through. 

"Then  again,  a  well-equipped  factory  will  get  the  materials  better 
mixed  and  in  a  more  even  manner  than  the  home  mixer.  The  home  mixing 
fad  seldom  lives  but  a  few  years  in  a  place,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the 
percentage  of  home  mixed  fertilizer  used  by  the  potato  growers  of  Maine 
is  so  small  as  to  hardly  be  reckoned  with.  Maine,  more  than  any  other 
state,    grows   its   potatoes   on   commercial    fertilizer,    and   had   there   been   any 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  15 

great  gain  in  heme  mixing,  the  Maine  potato  grower  would  have  been  at 
the  fore  in  the  home  mixing  idea  years  ago.  The  safest  way  is  to  get  the 
high-grade   fertilizer,   buying  of  reliable  firms." 

The  same  conditions  prevail  among  the  potato  growers  in  Long  Island, 
New  Jersey  and  practically  wherever  potato  growing  is  managed  on  a  com- 
mercial  scale. 

APPLYING  THE  FERTILIZER. 

There  is  considerable  difference  of  opinion  amongst  different  leading 
growers  as  to  the  best  methods  of  applying  fertilizer.  If  a  ton  to  the  acre 
is  to  be  used,  some  authorities  recommend  broadcasting  one-half  at  the  last 
harrowing,  and  putting  in  the  other  half  (i.  e.  1,000  pounds)  with  the  potato 
planter. 

The  writer's  own  experience  has  been  that  it  is  better  to  use  from  1 ,200 
to  1,500  pounds  per  acre  of  the  fertilizer  in  the  planter,  and  then  to  apply 
500  or  800  pounds,  as  the  case  may  be,  as  a  supplementary  application 
after  the  plants  are  well  up.  The  most  convenient  way  to  make  this  sup- 
plementary application  is  with  the  potato  planting  machine,  with  the  plows 
removed    as   described   under    "Cultivation   in   Aroostook    County." 

In  view  of  the  restricted  root  system  of  the  potato  plant,  the  writer 
considers  it  possibly  the  one  crop  in  which  he  thinks  broadcasting  of  the 
fertilizer  undesirable.  In  general,  broadcasting  of  fertilizer  is  an  excellent 
practice.  Most  of  the  crops  of  our  northeastern  United  States  have  such 
spreading  root  systems,  that  broadcasting  of  the  fertilizer  involves  no  waste 
of  plant  food. 

WHY  MAKE  LARGE  APPLICATIONS  OF 
FERTILIZER? 

We  quote  once  more  from  the  very  able  article  prepared  by  the  late 
Director  Voorhees,  in  answer  to  this  question. 

"It  is  asked  why  make  so  large  an  application  if  we  are  to  get  only 
200  bushels,  for  surely  a  part  at  least  of  the  fertility  removed  is  taken  from 
the  supplies  of  the  soil  itself?  There  are  many  reasons  why  this  is  the  best 
plan;  one  reason,  already  hinted  at,  is  that  seasons  are  variable  —  the 
right  amount  of  heat  and  moisture  is  not  always  provided.  That  is,  there 
are  times  when  the  land  is  so  dry  that  the  potato  stops  growing  —  it  cannot 
take  up  food.  There  are  other  times  when  it  is  too  cold,  other  times  too 
wet,  so  that  the  plants  are  not  permitted  to  feed  continuously.  If  just 
enough  fertilizer  has  been  applied  to  meet  actual  demands  for  the  total  crop, 
conditions  must  be  perfect.  [To  insure  success.]  They  are  seldom,  if  ever, 
perfect,  and  therefore  an  excess  must  be  provided  to  enable  the  plant  when 
in  a  starving  condition  (due  to  any  one  of  these  causes),  when  conditions 
are  again  favorable,  to  gather  food  much  faster  than  it  would  under  normal 
conditions  and  thus  make  it  possible  for  it  to  catch  up  and  in  the  end  make 
a    full   crop."     (American  Fertilizer  Magazine,  March  8,   1913.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


BLISS  TRIUMPHS,  or  RED  BLISS 

This  variety  has  come  to  the  front  very  rapidly  within  the  last  few 
years,  and  is  now  one  of  the  standard  seed  varieties  shipped  to  the  South 
and  Southwestern  states.  It  is  one  of  the  earliest  kinds  grown,  and  matures 
quickly.  Tlie  tubers  are  round  and  uniform  in  shape,  eyes  slightly  depressed, 
and  of  a  beautiful  bright  red  color.  It  is  one  of  the  hardiest  varieties 
known,  and  is  not  susceptible  to  rot,  scab  or  disease;  in  fact,  it  can  be  grown 
on  the  most  heavily  manured  land  without  danger  of  rot. 

Its  great  productiveness,  handsome  color,  and  resistance  to  disease, 
makes  it  a  very  popular  Potato  and  one  especially  suited  to  Southern  shippers. 

(By  courtesy  of   fhe   E.   L.   Cleveland  Co.,   Houlton,   Me.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  17 

E.  FRANK  COE  POTATO  FERTILIZERS. 

The  E.  Franlf  Coe  Potato  Fertilizers  are  standard  plant  foods  represent- 
ing in  their  composition  the  fruits  of  many  years'  experience  in  the  fertihzer 
business,  together  with  the  latest  teachings  of  agricuhural  science.  The  E. 
Frank  Coe  Brands  were  first  manufactured  over  fifty-five  years  ago,  and 
have  ever  since  been  leaders  among  the  standard  lines  of  high-grade  com- 
mercial fertilizers.  They  are  prepared  to  cover  the  variations  of  different 
soils  in  different  localities  and  their  composition  is  under  the  direction  of 
the  leading  agricultural  experts  of  the  country. 

The  effect  of  every  ingredient  is  carefully  considered  and  the  experience 
of  leading  growers  in  their  different  sections  is  studied.  To  go  into  the 
details  of  formulae  and  methods  of  manufacture  would  only  confuse  the 
reader  with  a  large  amount  of  technical  detail  that  would  prove  of  little 
interest,    and   certainly   of   little   value. 

The  E.  Frank  Coe  Fertilizers,  however,  speak  for  themselves  when  used 
in  actual  potato  growing,  demonstrating  beyond  question  the  superiority  of 
the  ingredients,  as  well  as  proving  conclusively  that  these  ingredients  are 
correctly  proportioned.  They  grow  large  crops  of  beautiful,  smooth  tubers, 
uniform  in   size  and  of  the  highly  prized   "mealy"   quality  when  cooked. 

It  is  a  significant  fact  that  in  the  face  of  strenuous  competitive  condi- 
tions, the  use  of  E.  Frank  Coe  Fertilizers  for  potatoes  is  increasing  yearly, 
especially  in  Long  Island,  New  Jersey,  New  York  State  and  Maine,  where 
potato  growing  seems  to  have  reached  its  highest  development. 

BRANDS  AND  ANALYSES. 

E.  Frank  Coe's  Double  Strength  Potato  Manure. 

GUARANTEED    ANALYSIS.  Per    Cent. 

Nitrogen     3.70  to     4.53 

Equal    to    Ammonia    '. 4.50  to     5.50 

Available   Phosphoric  Acid    7.00  to     9.00 

Total    Phosphoric   Acid    8.00  to    1 1 .00 

Potash    (Actual)    10.00   to    1  1 .00 

E.   Frank  Coe's  Blood,   Bone  and  Potash. 

GUARANTEED    ANALYSIS.  Per    Cent. 

Nitrogen     4.1  1    to     4.94 

Equal    to    Ammonia    5.00  to     6.00 

Available  Phosphoric  Acid    7.00  to     9.00 

Total   Phosphoric   Acid    8.00   to    10.00 

Potash    (Actual)    7.00   to     8.00 

These  two  brands  are  especially  suitable  for  use  upon  the  rather  light 
loams  on  which  potatoes  naturally  grow  best.  A  portion  of  the  ammonia 
is  derived  from  nitrate  of  soda,  a  portion  from  sulphate  of  ammonia,  other 
portions  from  dissolved  animal  matter,  blood,  tankages,  bone,  etc.,  all  materials 
of  the  highest  availability  and  all  correctly  proportioned. 

Nothing  better  in  the  way  of  potato  fertilizers  can  be  manufactured; 
neither  expense  nor  care  has  been  spared  in  preparing  these  two  very  efficient 
brands. 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


E.  Frank  Coe's  Standard  Potato  Fertilizer. 

GUARANTEED    ANALYSIS.  Per  Cent. 

Nitrogen    3.29  to  4.11 

Equal    to   Ammonia    4.00  to     5.00 

Available    Phosphoric    Acid    6.00  to     8.00 

Total    Phosphoric  Acid    7.00  to  10.00 

Potash    (Actual)    10.00  to  1  1 .00 

This  brand  is  manufactured  from  the  same  high-grade  materials  as 
the  brands  previously  mentioned,  but  the  proportions  are  somewhat  different 
in  order  to  adapt  this  brand  to  soils  of  a  heavier  type.  Such  soils  in  general 
carry  more  nitrogen  and  more  phosphoric  acid  than  do  the  light  jX)tato 
loams,  and  the  manufacturers  of  E.  Frank  Coe  Fertilizers  consider  that  it 
is  wise  economy  for  the  potato  grower  to  consider  these  facts  in  selecting 
the    fertilizer   for   his   crop. 

E.   Frank  Coe's  Red   Brand  Excelsior  Guano. 

GUARANTEED    ANALYSIS.  Per  Cent. 

Nitrogen    3.29  to  4.1 1 

Equal    to    Ammonia    4.00  to  5.00 

Available  Phosphoric  Acid    8.00  to  9.00 

Total    Phosphoric   Acid    9.00  to  12.00 

Potash   (Actual)    7.00  to  8.00 

One  of  the  first  fertilizers  ever  manufactured  for  potatoes  and  for 
market  gardening  was  Coe's  Red  Brand  Excelsior  Guano.  For  years  it 
has  held  a  leading  position  as  the  standard  by  which  other  potato  fertilizers 
are   measured. 

While  the  original  formula  has  been  slightly  modified  to  include  certain 
quick  acting  ammoniates,  the  features  that  for  years  have  given  this  brand 
a  peculiar  and  superior  character   have  been  carefully   retained. 

It  is  adapted  to  practically  all  average  soil  conditions,  except  that  on 
very  sandy  soils  preference  should  be  given  to  E.  Frank  Coe's  Blood,  Bone 
and    Potash. 

Where  there  is  a  marked  deficiency  in  potash  use  brands  carrying  ten 
per  cent,   of  this  element. 

E.  Frank  Coe's  Excelsior  Potato  Fertilizer. 

GUARANTEED    ANALYSIS.  Per  Cent. 

Nitrogen    2.47   to     3.29 

Equal  to  Ammonia    3.00  to     4.00 

Available    Phosphoric    Acid    7.00   to     9.00 

Total    Phosphoric  Acid    8.00  to    1  1 .00 

Potash    (Actual)    8.00  to     9.00 

E.  Frank  Coe's  High  Grade  Potato  Fertilizer. 

GUARANTEED    ANALYSIS.  Per  Cent. 

Nitrogen    2.47   to  3.29 

Equal    to    Ammonia    3.00  to  4.00 

Available    Phosphoric    Acid     8.00  to  10.00 

Total    Phosphoric   Acid    9.00  to  12.00 

Potash    (Actual) 6.00  to  7.00 

These  brands  are  intended  for  use  upon  still  heavier  soils,  in  which 
there    is    a    considerable    percentage    of   clay.      Such    soils    naturally    contain 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  19 

rather  high  percentages  of  Potash  and  while  the  object  of  fertihzation  is  of 
course  to  feed  the  crop  rather  than  to  feed  the  soil,  the  natural  character- 
istics of  the  soil,  when  pronounced,  should  be  taken  into  consideration. 

On  heavy  soils  containing  relatively  a  high  amount  of  clay,  such  as 
some  of  the  heavy  loams  in  Massachusetts  underlaid  by  clay  subsoil,  these 
brands  give  extremely  good  results.  They  are  prepared  from  the  best  ingredi- 
ents  obtainable,    and   are   correctly  proportioned   for   the   purposes    intended. 


E.  Frank  Coe's  Extra  Special  Potato  Fertilizer  and 
Fruit  Grower. 

GUARANTEED    ANALYSIS.  Per  Cent. 

Nitrogen    1 .65   to     2.47 

Equal    to   Ammonia    2.00  to     3.00 

Available    Phosphoric    Acid    8.00  to   10.00 

Total    Phosphoric   Acid    9.00  to    12.00 

Potash   (Actual)    10.00  to    11 .00 

While  we  do  not  recommend  the  use  of  stable  manure  for  potatoes 
for  reasons  previously  described,  we  recognize  the  fact  that  there  are  some- 
times occasions  when  its  use  may  be  almost  imperative.  Such  occasions  may 
arise  when  a  large  amount  of  stable  manure  is  produced  on  the  farm,  or  is 
obtainable  at  a  very  low  cost,  and  potatoes  are  practically  the  only  crop 
under   cultivation. 

To  meet  these  conditions,  and  also  to  meet  the  conditions  that  exist 
where  large  crops  of  clover  have  been  turned  under  for  green  manure,  we 
furnish   this   special   brand. 

The  percentage  of  ammonia  is  low;  i.  e.,  2%,  yet  this  2%  is  furnished 
in  extremely  available  forms  so  that  the  crop  may  be  well  fed  early  in  the 
season  before  the  organic  nitrogen  furnished  from  either  the  stable  manure 
or  the  clover  crop  shall  have  become  available. 

The  process  of  nitrification,  by  which  the  organic  materials  are  con- 
verted into  nitrates  requires  abundant  moisture  and  warmth.  These  condi- 
tions do  not  prevail  in  the  early  spring,  or  even  in  early  summer,  and  the 
use  of  a  proper  fertilizer  to  give  the  crop  a  vigorous  start  is  a  necessity. 

E.  Frank  Coe's  Monmouth  County  Special  Potato  Fertilizer. 

GUARANTEED    ANALYSIS.  Per  Cent. 

Nitrogen    3.29  to     4.1  1 

Equal  to  Ammonia    4.00  to     5.00 

Available    Phosphoric    Acid 8.00  to   10.00 

Total   Phosphoric    Acid    9.00  to    12.00 

Potash   (Actual)    10.00  to    1  1 .00 

This  brand  is  prepared  especially  to  meet  the  conditions  that  exist  in 
New  Jersey,  where  it  gives  extremely  profitable  results.  It  is  not  offered 
for   sale   elsewhere. 


20 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


EARLY  DEWDROP 

An  extra  early  variety  and  a  very  heavy  producer  for  an  early  Potato. 
The  tubers  are  snow-white  with  very  smooth,  velvety  skin  and  shallow  eyes. 
No  Potato  can  surpass  it  in  uniform  and  handsome  appearance.  The  quality 
is  exceptionally  good,  very  much  above  the  average.  They  are  very  fine 
grained,  white  as  flour  and  of  a  splendid  flavor;  excellent  keepers,  and  retain 
their  good  eating  qualities  until  late  in  the  spring,  which  some  of  the  early 
varieties  do  not.     The  vines  are  tall,  erect,  and  of  vigorous  growth. 

Said  to  be  one  of  the  handsomest  early  white  varieties  grown. 

(By  courtesy  of   the   E.   L.   Cleveland   Co.,   Houlton,    Me.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


E.  Frank  Coe  fertilizers  are  manufactured  by  The  CoE-MortimeR 
Company,  of  51  Chambers  Street,  New  York  City.  With  five  factories 
located  along  the  Atlantic  seaboard  from  Belfast,  Maine,  to  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  this  company  is  enabled  to  give  superior  service  to  its  customers. 


CHARACTER  OF  FERTILIZERS. 

In  these  days  of  many  brands  and  many  makes  offered  at  many  prices, 
it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  a  cut  price  in  fertilizers  seldom  means  a  bargain. 
More  generally  it  means  that  inferior  plant  foods  are  being  used  or  that  the 
fertilizers  are  in  some  way  of  a  low  grade.  In  this  connection  Professor 
William  P.  Brooks,  Director  of  the  Massachusetts  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station,   says: 

"It  is  not  invariably  the  case,  but  usually  the  fertilizer  which  is  offered 
at  the  lowest  price  per  ton  is,  measured  by  plant  food  efficiency,  the  most 
expensive;  and  the  high-grade  fertilizers,  those  which  are  sold  at  the  highest 
prices  per  ton,  are  usually  much  better  worth  the  money  that  they  cost  than 
are   the   low-grade    fertilizers." 


SPRAYING,    AND    ENEMIES    AND    DISEASES    OF 

THE   POTATO. 

The  spraying  of  potatoes  is  carried  on  for  three  reasons:  first,  the 
destruction  of  injurious  insects;  second,  the  prevention  of  blight  and  rot; 
and  third,  to  prolong  the  growing  period  of  the  plants ;  this  latter  being  the 
outcome   of  the   successful   consummation   of  the   first   two. 

First,  Insect  Pests.  The  principal  insect  pests  are  the  flea  beetle 
and   the   Colorado  potato  bug. 

The  Flea  Beetle  (Epitrix  cucumeris),  is  the  tiny  black  beetle 
which  appears  in  such  great  numbers  on  the  young  potato  plants.  They 
puncture  the  leaves  with  a  multitude  of  small  holes,  which  not  only  work 
a   great  injury  directly  to  the  plants   themselves,    but   also   provide  especially 


22 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


CLEVELAND'S  EARLY  PERFECTION 

This  very  fine  early  potato,  introduced  to  the  trade  by  our  Company,^ 
originated  in  Maine  from  the  seed  ball.  In  a  test  conducted  by  Professor 
Lawrence,  of  Raynham,  Mass.,  during  the  season  of  1908,  among  sixty-two 
varieties  of  both  English  and  American  stock,  this  stood  sixth  on  the  list, 
showing  a  yield  of  410  bushels  to  the  acre,  with  considerable  resistance  to 
blight.  It  is  white  in  color,  one  of  the  earliest,  if  not  the  very  earliest  on 
our  list;  slightly  flattened  in  shape,  with  blunt  seed  end;  similar  to  the 
early  Ohio,  shoal-eyed,  flesh  white,  fine-grained,  excellent  table  quality, 
and  a  robust  grower;  in'  short,  one  of  the  most  promising  and  satisfactory 
varieties. 

We  believe  this  early  potato  will  be  especially  desirable  and  profitable 
as  an  early  market-garden  variety,  considering  its  earliness,  handsome  white 
appearance,  quality  and  productiveness.  The  vines  are  stocky  with  heavy 
foliage,  tubers  uniform  in  size,  altogether  one  of  the  best  keepers,  and  worthy 
of   the   first   place. 

*The   E.   L.  Cleveland  Co.,   Houlton,   Me. 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  23 

favorable  lodging  places  for  germs  of  early  blight  and  late  blight.  The 
flea  beetle  may  be  overcome  best  by  spraying  with  Pyrox,  a  preparation  in 
many  ways  superior  to  Bordeaux  mixture.  It  is  important  that  the  spraying 
be  thorough,  as  the  beetles  will  eat  the  leaves  wherever  the  leaves  are  not 
thoroughly  covered  with  the  spray. 

The  Colorado  Potato  Bug  (Leptinotarsa  decemlineata)  is  a 
somewhat  more  difficult  insect  to  fight.  For  many  years  Paris  Green  has 
been  considered  the  only  effectual  poison  for  this  destructive  insect,  but 
Paris  Green  has  failed  to  give  satisfaction,  since  it  often  proves  harmful 
to  the  foliage,  and  frequently  fails  to  kill  the  bugs.  It  is,  moreover,  easily 
washed  off   by   the   rains. 

The  burning  action  of  Paris  Green  on  foliage  is  due  to  the  fact  that  it 
contains  soluble  arsenic,  which  is  almost  as  harmful  to  plants  as  to  animals 
or  insects.  It  would  seem,  also,  that  the  potato  bug  has  been  growing  immune 
to  the  effect  of  Paris  Green  during  some  years  past. 

Arsenate  of  lead  has  been  found  superior  to  Paris  Green,  as  when 
properly  manufactured,  it  contains  no  soluble  arsenic,  and  never  burns  the 
foliage.     It  also  adheres  to  the  leaves  much  better  than  does  Paris  Green. 

Pyrox  is  a  preparation  that  combines  all  the  merits  of  arsenate  of 
lead  with  the  merits  of  the  very  best  Bordeaux  mixture.  It  is,  however, 
something  more  than  a  combination  of  arsenate  of  lead  and  Bordeaux.  Copper 
salts  are  the  basis  of  this  fungicide.  However,  it  should  not  be  confused 
with  Bordeaux.  Pyrox  is  usually  mixed  with  cold  water  and  sticks  to  the 
foliage  almost  like  paint.  It  serves  so  well  the  purpose  of  an  insecticide 
and  fungicide,  that  it  is  in  general  to  be  preferred  to  any  other  material  for 
a   potato   spray. 

Early  Blight,  or  potato  leaf  blight  (Alternaria  Solani)  is  caused 
by  a  parasitic  fungus.  This  fungus  lives  within  the  tissues  of  the  leaves, 
and  spreads  throughout  these  tissues,  causing  the  appearance  of  brown  dead 
spots  on  the  foliage.  The  leaves  soon  die,  and  as  the  spores  of  the  early 
blight  multiply  rapidly,  the  disease  will  spread  from  a  small  area  to  an 
entire   field. 

Prevention  is  the  only  course  to  be  considered;  it  is  too  late  to  spray 
after  the  blight  appears.  Spray  with  Pyrox  very  early,  when  the  plants 
are  from  four  to  six  inches  high.  The  second  spraying  with  Pyrox  should 
be  given  about  ten  days  later  and  the  third  application  ten  days  subsequent 
to  this.  In  the  event  of  hot,  damp  weather  in  July  or  August,  additional 
spraying  should  be  given.  Spraying  should  be  done  on  a  clear  bright  day, 
so  that  the  application  may  have  a  chance  to  dry  on  the  leaves,  after  which, 
rain  will  have  comparatively  litde  effect.  Repeated  sprayings  are,  however, 
necessary  to  take  care  of  the  increased  growth  of  the  plants. 

Late  Blight  (Phytophthora  infestans)  is  also  caused  by  a  parasitic 
fungus.  This  may  affect  the  leaves  first,  and  later  the  tubers  themselves. 
Late  blight  of  potatoes  is  generally  feared  more  than  any  other  disease. 
It  is  estimated  that  in  some  years  the  loss  from  late  blight  in  New  York 
State  alone,  has  amounted  to  as  much  as  ten  million  dollars. 

Treatment  must  be  entirely  preventive.  The  fungus  does  not  show 
itself  or  give  evidence  of  its  presence  while  it  is  spreading  through  the  tissues 


24 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


IMPROVED  GREEN  MOUNTAIN 

Large,  Handsome,  White  Potato;  a  prolific  yielder,  and  invariably  of 
fine  eating  quality,  cooking  dry  and  mealy;  a  Potato  that  has  largely  super- 
seded other  varieties  throughout  Aroostook  County,  and  is  now  the  main 
crop  table  variety.  It  is  medium  early  and  gives  excellent  results  on  all 
kinds  of  soil.     The  flesh  is  very  white,  with  a  flavor  peculiarly  its  own. 

The  vines  are  always  very  heavy,  the  seed  being  especially  vigorous, 
^nd  very  few  small   Potatoes  where  soil  is  well  tilled. 

(By  courtesy   of   the   E.   L.   Cleveland   Co.,   Houlton,    Me.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  25 

of  the  leaf.  Later,  however,  it  shows  itself  by  the  formation  of  brown 
spots,  which  gradually  become  larger,  finally  turn  black  and  give  off  a 
most   disagreeable   odor   as   they   decompose. 

The  disease  spreads  rapidly,  and  spraying,  however  thorough,  is  of 
no  value  at  all  after  the  spots  on  the  leaves  appear.  The  spores  or  germs 
of  this  disease,  falling  on  the  soil,  are  carried  by  the  rains  into  contact  with 
the  tubers  and  the  tubers  themselves  will  decay.  Frequently  potatoes  that 
look  perfectly  sound,  and  are  perfectly  sound  at  digging  time,  are  infected 
at  harvest  with  these  spores   or  germs  that  are  on  or  in  the  soil. 

Potatoes  so  infected  rot  badly  after  being  placed  in  the  storehouses, 
so  that  the  great  dangers  from  late  blight  are  not  entirely  avoided  even 
if  the  potatoes  look  sound  at  digging  time.  All  the  more  emphasis  therefore 
must  be  placed  on  the  importance  of  preventing  this  terrible  disease  from 
getting  the  slightest  foothold. 

Spray  thoroughly  with  Pyrox  as  previously  directed  for  early  blight. 

In  addition  to  destroying  injurious  insects  and  preventing  blight  and 
rot,  repeated  experiments  show  that  spraying  prolongs  the  growing  period 
of  the  plants.  Experiments  and  observation  show  that  so  long  as  the  tops 
of  the  plants  are  growing,  the  tubers  are  also  growing,  and  the  desirability 
of  keeping  the  tops  alive  for  a  long  period  is  therefore  apparent.  It  would 
undoubtedly  pay  well  to  spray  for  this  reason  alone,  even  were  there  no 
msects  or   fungus  diseases  to  combat. 

The  Vermont  experiment  station  in  Bulletin  No.  159,  issued  in  May, 
l'91l,  gives  the  report  of  many  years'  experience  in  spraying  for  potato 
diseases.  We  quote  as  follows  from  Page  2 1 9  relative  to  the  results  of 
spraying: 

"1.  It  very  efficiently  protects  the  plants  from  the  attacks  of  the  early 
and   of   the   late   blight. 

"2.  It  seems  to  serve  in  some  way  as  a  stimulus  to  the  plant,  so  that 
it  remains  green  from  one  to  two  weeks  longer  than  do  the  unsprayed  ones 
and,   also,   yields   more   and  larger  tubers." 

Potato  Scab  (Oospora  scabies).  This  fungus  disease  of  the  potato 
is  very  familiar.  It  gives  to  the  tubers  a  characteristic  roughened  pitted 
surface,  which  practically  destroys  their  market  value.  The  cause  of  scab 
is,  of  course,  the  introduction  of  the  scab  germ.  The  conditions  that  favor 
the  development  and  spread  of  scab  are  brought  about  by  the  use  of  wood 
ashes,  lime,  stable  manure,  etc. 

An  alkaline  condition  of  the  soil  encourages  the  growth  of  the  scab 
germ.  Only  clean  soils  (i.  e.,  soils  free  from  scab  germs)  should  be  planted 
to  potatoes.  Alkaline  fertilizers  should  be  avoided,  and  those  of  an  acid 
character  used.  Full  directions  for  treating  seed  potatoes  so  as  to  kill  scab 
germs  that  may  infect  the  seed  are  given  in  our  discussion  of  "Preparation 
pf  the  Seed   for   Planting." 

We  have  also  elsewhere  mentioned  the  dusting  of  the  seed  pieces  with 
finely  powdered  sulphur.  It  is  suggested  by  Dr.  H.  J.  Wheeler,  late  Director 
of  the  Rhode  Island  Experiment  Station,  that  the  beneficial  results  obtained 
from  use  of  sulphur  in  this  way  are  due  to  its  gradual  oxidation  in  the  soil 
and  the  consequent  production  of  acid. 


26 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


CARMAN  No.  3 

In  appearance,  like  Carman  No.  I ,  except  that  the  tubers  are  more 
elongated.  In  general  appearance  it  resembles  the  Rural  New  Yorker  No.  2, 
but  is  regarded  as  more  popular.  The  skin  and  flesh  are  extremely  white; 
of  exceptionally  good  cooking  quality  and  very  prolific;  tubers  grow  very 
compactly  in  the  hill,  and  it  is,  therefore,  more  easily  harvested  than  any 
other  variety. 

It  is  a  good  keeper,  with  few  very  shallow  eyes,  and  is  deservedly  in 
good   demand. 

(By  courtesy  of   the   E,.   L.  Cleveland   Co.,   Houlton,   Me.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  11 

Dry  Rot  (Fusarium  oxysporum).  This  fungous  disease  attacks  the 
potato  plant  under  ground,  first  affecting  the  small  fine  roots.  Later  the 
tubers  themselves  are  affected  and  the  plants  wilt  or  blight.  Tubers  infected 
with  this  disease  are  subject  to  dry  rot  while  in  storage. 

Land  infected  with  this  disease  should  not  be  planted  to  potatoes  again 
for  from  three  to  five  years.  Grass  and  grain  crops  may  be  grown,  and 
seem  to  clean  the  soil  of  this  disease  to  better  advantage  than  do  cultivated 
crops. 

Never  use  seed  potatoes  that  show  signs  of  this  disease.  Spraying  gives 
no  relief  and  at  the  present  time  no  remedy  for  this  disease  is  known  once 
it   gains   a    foothold. 

All  the  more  reason  therefore  to  take  special  precautions  to  plant  only 
clean   seed   on   clean   land. 

VARIETIES. 

There  are  many  good  varieties  of  potatoes  on  the  market,  but  no  one 
potato  can  safely  be  said  to  be  the  "best."  A  variety  that  is  "best"  for  one 
locality  may  be  entirely  unsuitable  for  planting  in  a  different  section.  Also, 
a  variety  especially  good  for  an  early  crop  may  be  much  less  desirable  for 
a   medium   or   late   crop. 

In  considering  the  varieties  also  the  preferences  of  the  grower's  markets 
should  be  considered.  The  requirements  of  size  and  shape  and  quality  are 
important.  We  are  fortunately  able  to  present  an  exceptionally  good  series 
of  illustrations  of  the  different  leading  varieties  of  potatoes,  true  to  name  and 
true  to  type.  This  is  possible  through  the  courtesy  of  Messrs.  E.  L.  Cleve- 
land Company,  of  Houlton,  Me.,  who  furnished  the  engravings.  The 
engravings  illustrating  the  varieties  are  made  from  carefully  taken  photo- 
graphs, and  the  descriptions  of  the  varieties  are  furnished  by  Messrs.  E.  L. 
Cleveland   Company. 

The  E.  L.  Cleveland  Company  is  the  largest  seed  potato  house  in  the 
United  States.  Its  reputation  for  rehability  is  nation-wide,  and  the  quality 
of  the  potatoes  that  they  handle  is  superior.  At  the  great  Land  Show,  held 
in  New  York  City  in  the  winter  of  1912,  Messrs.  Cleveland  won  the  Grand 
Prize,  a  $750.00  silver  cup,  awarded  for  the  best  potatoes  raised  in  the 
United  States  or  Canada.  Messrs.  Cleveland  also  won  the  First  Prize 
cup  for  the  best  county  exhibit  of  potatoes  at  the  same  show.  One  of 
these  trophies  is  illustrated  on  the  outside  back  cover.  The  E.  L.  Cleveland 
Company  use  E.   Frank  Coe   Fertilizers. 

HARVESTING. 

While  on  small  areas  potatoes  are  still  dug  by  hand,  a  more  economical 

.  way   of   harvesting   and   one   that  is   necessary   for   large   fields    is   by   means 

of   the  potato   digger.      There   are   several   excellent  potato    diggers   now   on 

the  market,  one  of  which  is  illustrated  in  the  appendix.    By  use  of  the  digger, 

one  man,  with  a  suitable  team,  will  dig  about  six  acres  per  day. 

Digging  is  generally  done  in  a  hurry  and  things  move  with  a  rush. 
The  growing  season  of  the  potato  is  comparatively  a  short  one  and  the  crop 


28 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


AROOSTOOK  PRIZE 
One  of  the  greatest  croppers  grown  in  this  section  by  reason  of  its 
enormous  size.  Tubers  are  oblong,  round  form,  eyes  plentiful  and  some- 
what deep,  medium  late,  skin  and  flesh  of  very  white  color,  and  is  a  very 
handsome  Potato,  although  not  regarded  as  equal  to  some  of  the  other 
varieties   as   to  cooking  qualities. 

(By   courtesy   of   the   E.   L.   Cleveland   Co.,    Houlton,    Me.) 


EARLY  BOVEE 
Notwithstanding  this  Potato  was  introduced  only  a  few  years  ago,  it 
has  become  very  popular,  and  our  supply  has  never  been  equal  to  the  demand. 
It  is  of  the  Hebron  type,  and  one  of  the  earliest  varieties  grown  in  Aroostook. 
The  tubers  are  long,  have  pink  skin;  of  handsome  appearance  and  fine 
quality.  Heavy  producer;  has  a  stalky,  dwarfed  vine,  the  tubers  growing 
compactly  in  the  hill.  This  variety  is  especially  valuable  for  table  use  by 
reason  of  very  shallow  eyes,  fine  texture,  white  flesh  and  excellent  flavor. 

(By  courtesy  of   the   E.   L.   Cleveland  Co.,   Houlton,   Me.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  29 

must  be  out  of  the  ground  before  freezing.  After  digging,  the  tubers  should 
He  on  the  ground  for  from  two  to  six  hours  to  dry  out  and  to  toughen  the 
skin.  At  the  same  time,  care  should  be  taken  to  see  that  they  do  not  become 
sunburned. 

Potatoes  should  not  be  dug  when  the  ground  is  too  wet.  Not  only 
will  the  draft  of  the  digging  machine  be  difficult,  but  a  considerable  quantity 
of  earth  will  adhere  to  the  tubers,  injuring  their  appearance. 

Picking  up  is  done  by  hand ;  in  some  sections  into  bushel  boxes  and  in 
others  into  barrels.  The  boxes  have  the  advantage  of  being  lighter  to  handle, 
but  when  potatoes  are  to  be  drawn  direct  from  the  field  to  the  cars,  as  is 
frequently  the  case  with  early  potatoes,  the  barrel  is  generally  more  convenient 
as  the  potatoes  are  commonly  sold  on  the  basis  of  a  barrel  price.  The 
standard   potato   barrel   holds   two   bushels   and   three   pecks. 

POTATO  MACHINERY. 

The  potato  industry  is  so  great,  and  economical  handling  of  the  crop 
is  so  necessary,  that  special  machines  have  been  perfected  for  performing 
such  operations  as  planting,  cultivating,  digging,  spraying,  etc.  Special  potato 
machinery   is   manufactured   by   the    following   companies: 

A.  The  Bateman  Manufacturing  Company,  Grenloch,  N.  J.,  manu- 
factures the  "Iron  Age"  line  of  potato  machines,  including  planters,  culti- 
vators, sprayers,  potato  hoes  and  diggers.  The  Iron  Age  planter  and  the 
Iron  Age  riding  cultivator  are  shown  in  the  Appendix. 

B.  The  Aspinwall  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Jackson,  Mich., 
makes  a  special  line  of  potato  machinery  including  planters,  diggers,  sorters, 
etc.     The  Aspinwall  Planter  is  illustrated  in  the  Appendix. 

C.  Messrs.  Deere  &  Company,  of  Moline,  111.,  make  the  John  Deere 
Harrows,  Cultivators,  Potato  Diggers,  and  Horse  Hoes,  for  the  potato  crop. 
In  the  Appendix  is  shown  a  picture  of  their  "K  A"  pivot  axle  cultivator. 

D.  The  Field  Force  Pump  Company,  of  Elmira,  New  York,  manu- 
factures special  spraying  machines  for  use  upon  the  potato  crop.  Their 
Watson  Four-Row  Sprayer  and  the  Watson  Triplex  Sprayer,  also  manu- 
factured by  them,  are  shown  in  the  Appendix. 

E.  The  Syracuse  Chilled  Plow  Company,  of  Syracuse,  New  York, 
in  addition  to  their  well-known  line  of  superior  plows,  manufactures  a  special 
potato  hoe  illustrated  in  the  Appendix. 

F.  The  Belcher  &  Taylor  Agricultural  Tool  Company,  of  Chicopee 
Falls,  Mass.,  are  manufacturers  of  Prout's  Horse  Hoe,  an  implement  which, 
although  originally  intended  for  use  upon  tobacco,  is  excellent  for  cultivating 
potatoes  and  hilling  up  into  broad,  low  ridges.  This  is  illustrated  in  the 
Appendix. 

G.  The  Hoover  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Avery,  Ohio,  manufac- 
tures a  line  of  potato  implements,  one  of  the  best  known  of  which  is  the 
Hoover  Potato  Digger,  which  is  illustrated  in  the  Appendix. 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  31 

H.  The  Cutaway  Harrow  Company,  of  Higganum,  Conn.,  manu- 
factures a  complete  line  of  Cutaway  Disk  Harrows,  and  other  implements 
for  pulverizing  the  soil.  One  of  their  Cutaway  Harrows  is  illustrated  in 
the  Appendix. 

I.  Messrs.  John  Watson  &  Co.,  of  Houlton,  Me.,  are  the  original 
designers  of  Watson's  Simplex  Potato  Sprayer,   illustrated  in  the  Appendix. 

The  catalogues  of  any  of  the  above  companies  will  give  many  helpful 
suggestions    in    regard   to   potato    machinery    suitable    for   local    conditions. 

COST  OF  GROWING  POTATOES. 

The  cost  of  growing  potatoes  will  naturally  vary  with  the  local  condi- 
tions. The  kind  of  soil  on  which  the  crop  is  grown,  the  kind  of  machinery 
used,  pay  of  laborers  and  many  other  factors  have  to  be  considered.  Per- 
haps  most   important   is   the  carefulness  and   ability   of   the   growei*:- 

Records  kept  by  the  Maine  State  Experiiiient  Station  at  Orono,  Me., 
of  a  ten-acre  field  of  potatoes  show  the  cost  to  be  $699.30.  The  itemized 
expenses   are   as    follows: 

Ten  Acre  Field.* 

"Plowing    at    $2.00    per    acre $20.00 

Harrowing  five   times  at  $3.50  per  acre 17.50 

Fertilizer    225.00 

Seed,    130  bushels  at  $0.75  per  bushel 97.50 

Disinfecting   seed    (labor    and    material) 3 .00 

Cutting  seed    (by   hand),   at  $0.06   per   bushel 7.80 

Planting,   team  and   2   men  3    days   at   $5.00 I  5 .  00 

Harrowing  or  weeding  before  crop  came   up,   four   times 10.50 

Cultivating   crop   eight    times 28.00 

Spraying  six   times    ($1.00  per  acre   each  application) 60.00 

Hand   hoeing   and    pulling   weeds   once , 15.00 

Digging  and  hauling   to  storehouse   or   station,   at  $15.00   per   acre....  150.00 

Rent  of  land    (5%    on  $50.00  per  acre   value),    10  acres 25.00 

Depreciation  of  implements   (plows,  hoes,  planter,  sprayer,  digger,  etc.) 

value  $250.00  estimated  at    10% 25.00 

Total $699.30 

The  returns  worked  out  as  follows : 

The  entire  ten  acres  yielded  2,250  bushels,  or  225  bushels  to  the  acre. 
The  value  of  the  crop  per  acre,  225  bushels  at  50c.  per  bushel,    $1  12.50 
The  cost  of  growing  per  acre,  as  shown  above 69.93 

Leaving  a  Net  Profit  per  acre  of $42.57" 

In   the   above,   depreciation  of   farm  buildings  has  not  been  taken  into 

account  as  it  should  be  on  a   farm  where  potatoes  are  one  of  the  principal 

crops. 

The  E.  L.  Cleveland  Company  of  Houlton,  Me.,  have  kindly  given  the 

writer  the   following  report   of   the  actual  cost  of  raising  a  25-acre  field  of 

potatoes.     (A  portion  of  this  field  at  harvest  time  is  illustrated  on  Page  30.) 

*From   "The  Polalo,"   by    Eugene   H.   Grubb. 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  33 

Expenses  per  Acre. 

Fertilizer $24.37 

Preparation   of   ground 3.00 

700   lbs.    of   seed    6.25 

Planting 2.50 

Cultivation    3.50 

Harvesting 7.50 

Rent   of    Land    10.00 

Applying   Paris  green    1 .00 

Hauling    to    market,    half    a    mile    from    field    3.50 

Total    per    acre    $61 .62 

Total   receipts   from   this  25   acres  were  as   follows: 

6187  bushels  of  potatoes  sold  at    54c.    per    bushel $3,340.98 

550  bushels  of  potatoes  sold   to  starch  factory  at  20c.  per  bushel.  ...  1  10.00 

Total   receipts $3,450.98 

Deduct   total    cost   of   raising   the   25    acres    at   $61.62   per    acre 1,540.50 

Showing    a    Profit    on    this    25    acres    of $1,910.48 

Or  $76.42   per  acre. 

In  this  calculation,  however,  it  should  be  observed  that  no  depreciation 
of  their  implements  or  buildings  has  been  figured,  as  would  be  necessary  if 
the  grower  were  desirous  of  determining  his  real  costs.  Also,  no  spraying 
with  Bordeaux  was  given  to  this  field,  Paris  Green  being  used  to  kill  the 
bugs,  and  clean  seed  and  clean  land  evidently  being  relied  on  to  prevent 
infection  from  either  early  or  late  blight.  This  is  not  a  safe  general  rule 
to   follow. 

Thus,  while  it  appears  that  certain  costs  were  omitted  in  both  the  above 
calculations,  it  should  be  taken  into  consideration  that  with  careful  cultiva- 
tion, fertilization  and  spraying,  crops  of  300  bushels  to  the  acre  are  by  no 
means  unusual.      In   fact,  they  are  generally  possible. 

Dr.  G.  M.  Twitchell  of  Maine,  one  of  the  best  authorities  on  potatoes, 
states  that  "It  costs  from  $90.00  to  $95.00  to  grow  an  acre  of  potatoes. 
The  trouble  has  been,  we  have  counted  only  seed,  fertilizer,  spraying,  and 
labor.  But  these  are  only  part  of  the  expenses.  Interest,  depreciation  of 
implements,  taxes,  insurance  of  buildings,  all  bear  a  direct  and  important 
relation   to   the   cost  per   bushel.    ^   ^   * 

"The  greatest  impetus  in  seeking  maximum  yield  is  full  appreciation  of 
costs  of  production.    *    *   *   It  is  the  maximum  crop  alone  which  pays." 

In  this  connection  the  following  outline  of  the  actual  experience  of  a 
young  Aroostook  County  farmer  is  both  instructive  and  helpful.  This  story 
of  a  potato  crop  is  written  by  Mr.  Benjamin  H.  Ward  of  Aroostook  County, 
Maine.  The  story  of  his  grit  and  ability,  backed  by  E.  Frank  Coe  Fertiliz- 
ers,  comes   to  you  just  as   Mr.   Ward  has  written   it. 

THE  STORY  OF  A  PROFITABLE  POTATO  CROP, 

BY    B.    H.    WARD. 
I  am  awful  sorry  that  I  did  not  write  last  fall,  but  it  was  right  when 
I  was  awful   busy  with  my  potatoes.     Had  to  keep   fires  every   night  under 
the   barn   to   keep   them   from   freezing. 


34  POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 

Well,  to  the  point.  I  had  fifty  acres  of  potatoes,  forty-four  of  sod  and 
six  of  potato  ground,  or  second  crop.  Had  twenty-three  acres  to  plow  in 
spring  (would  have  had  it  all  plowed  in  fall,  if  I  had  been  planning  on 
planting  so  heavy;  it  is  better  for  sod).  I  plow  all  the  way  from  seven 
to  nine  inches  deep.  I  harrowed  my  ground,  plowed  in  fall,  three  times, 
and  then  in  spring  twice,  which  made  it  nice  and   mellow. 

After  trading  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  barrels  of  Mountains  and 
forty  of  Carmans,  I  picked  out  twenty-five  of  Bliss  and  twenty-five  of  Cobblers, 
thirty  of  Gold  Coins,  and  forty-five  of  my  own  Mountains.  There  was  a 
big  waste  to  my  own  Mountains  for  they  were  large  and  the  eyes  seemed 
to  be  all  on  the  seed  end,  while  those  I  traded  and  got,  had  eyes  far  apart 
and   clear  to   the   butt. 

This  made  ine  about  five  acres  of  Cobblers,  five  of  Bliss,  six  of  Gold 
Coins,  ten  of  Carmans  and  twenty-four  of  Mountains. 

Commenced  planting  May  1  1 .  Had  a  man  harrowing  all  the  time 
while  I  planted,  and  along  the  last  end  had  a  boy  to  help  me  tend  planter, 
that  I  paid  eighty  cents  a  day.  Hauled  all  the  fertilizer  and  seed  into  field, 
and  did  all  the  planting  myself. 

I  used  forty  tons  of  the  Coe  fertilizer  making  just  fifteen  hundred  to 
the  acre,  which  was  all  put  underneath. 

Seeing  that  it  acted  like  a  dry  year,  I  planted  quite  deep  and  tightened 
up  my  disk  springs  as  tight  as  possible,  so  that  I  had  an  extra  large  hill, 
and  it  did  prove  a  dry  year. 

Had  four  girls  cutting  seed,  and  they  were  good  cutters.  They  didn't 
try  to  see  how  many  they  could  cut  in  a  day,  but  cut  just  as  I  wanted  them. 
I  used  a  little  plaster  on  seed  and  turned  them  over  each  day  and  did  not 
put  them  in  ground  while  green.      Used  them  from  two  to  four  days  old. 

After  planting,  I  sowed  twenty  acres  of  grain  and  had  ten  acres  of 
hay. 

Then  I  took  the  wheel  cultivator  and  cultivated  the  fifty  acres.  And 
then  we  ran  right  through  with  cultivator  and  hoe.  After  letting  them  stand 
a  few  days  we  cultivated  again,  hand-hoed,  cultivated  and  hilled  them  up. 

In  a  few  days  they  were  large  enough  to  spray.  I  sprayed  them  all, 
four  times  and  some  of  them  five,  using  3-4-5-5-6  pounds  of  vitriol  to  the 
acre  and  5-7-9-9-10  of  lime. 

It  being  an  extra  bad  year  for  bugs,  it  was  necessary  to  poison  twice; 
I  used  arsenic  and  sal  soda.  This  is  awful  cheap,  but  a  fellow  has  to 
be  mighty  careful  with  it. 

I  was  left  alone  right  in  spraying  time  and  did  not  have  any  more  help 
until  harvesting,  excepting  one  of  the  school  boys  came  out  on  a  vacation 
and  did  the  cooking. 

My  potatoes  looked  nice  all  summer,  that  good  healthy  green.  I  was 
really  proud  of  them.  I  had  forty-seven  acres  in  one  field,  with  the  main 
road  on  one  side  and  the  Fort  road  at  the  end.  I  tell  you  it  was  a  great 
advertisement  for  the  Coe  fertilizer.  While  spraying,  team  after  team 
stopped  me  on  the  road  and  I  used  to  have  to  leave  them  talking  in  order 
to  get  in  a  good  day's  work.  About  the  first  question  would  be:  "What 
kind  of  fertilizer  did  you  use?" 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


35 


During  digging,  it  took  two  teams  on  digger  and  two  men  to  look 
after  it  putting  tops  through  and  pulHng  away  potatoes.  It  took  from  four 
to  six  pickers,  and  a  man  and  myself  did  the  hauling  with  the  help  of  one 
of  the  digging   teams,   when   they   had  potatoes  dug  out   ahead. 

I  kept  good  account,  all  half  barrels  were  thrown  in,  and  we  dug  out 
and  hauled  in,  as  high  as  four  hundred  eighty-six  a  day.  After  adding 
up,  I  found  I  had  sixty-four  hundred  and  fifty-one  barrels.  An  average 
of  one  hundred   twenty-nine   barrels   to   the   acre. 

I  had  the  cellar  full  (under  the  barn),  the  floor  in  two  ways  taken 
up,  and  the  potatoes  kicked  back  and  up  to  the  scaffold  over  head,  which 
made  a  pile  sixteen  feet  deep.  Wagon  house  full,  wood-shed  and  cellar 
under   house    full,    and   a   thousand    barrels   up    to   Noyse's   cellar. 

Then  it  was  a  rush  to  get  them  out  before  freezing.  We  hauled  and 
hauled  with  two  teams  thirty  and  thirty-five  to  the  load.  Then  I  froze  a 
few. 

I  have  deposited  $8,570.98  from  my  potatoes  so  far,  and  I  have 
eighteen  hundred  barrels  yet,  four  of  Bliss,  one  of  Cobblers,  and  thirteen 
of  Mountains.     At  the  present  prices  my  crop  will  bring  me  $13,435.98. 

My  expenses  are  about  $3,000.00  or  a  little  under,  fertilizer,  seed, 
new  horse,  hired  help,  spraying,  groceries  and  other  small  expenses.  Got 
eleven  hundred  sixty-eight  bushels  of  oats  from  twenty  acres  and  my  hay 
was   good. 

I  am  afraid  that  when  you  read  this  letter  you  will  be  tired,  but  if 
there  is  anything  further,  I  will  be  glad  to  give  it.  I  feel  that  I  owe  the 
Coe   Fertilizer   and   Coe   people   yet. 


Yours  truly, 


B.  H.  Ward. 


Over-sized    growth   may   be   prevented   by    close   planting.     Still    these    are   "some   potatoes. 
They  were  raised  with  E.  Frank  Coe  Fertilizers. 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  37 


APPENDIX 

DESCRIPTIONS  OF  VARIETIES 
NOT  ILLUSTRATED 


NoROTON  Beauty,  or  Quick  Lunch. — This  new  early  Potato  was  first 
introduced  to  the  trade  in  1 903.  It  is  one  of  the  earHest  varieties 
grown,  globular  in  form,  running  uniform  as  to  size,  and  has  peculiar 
jiink  markings,  which  give  it  a  very  handsome  appearance.  It  is  a 
sure  cropper,  fairly  prolific,  of  good  table  quality,  and  especially  well 
adapted  for  market-garden  use  on  early  land.  It  is  not  easily  affected 
by  disease,  stalks  being  very  vigorous  until  the  maturity  of  the  potatoes, 
when  they  die  down  quickly  and  completely  to  the  ground. 

Extra-Early  Sunlight.  —  A  new  Potato  and,  as  its  name  indicates,  an 
extra-early  sort,  which,  on  account  of  its  handsome,  white  appearance 
and  excellent  cooking  qualities,  is  proving  a  money-maker  for  truckers 
wherever  grown,  and  especially  in  Virginia  and  adjacent  States. 
Tubers  medium  size,  oval  or  oblong,  some  slightly  flattened,  others 
taper  toward  blossom  end;  growing  at  medium  depth,  close  together, 
with  quite  uniformly  five  or  six  large  ones  in  a  hill.  Color  very 
white;  eyes  medium  size  and  shallow.  A  good  keeper  and  a  very 
clean  potato.  The  Ohio  State  Experiment  Station  recommends  it  for 
early   market,    as  well   as   for   home  use. 

White  Peachblow.  —  Introduced  in  1902,  since  which  time  this  early 
Potato  has  made  a  wonderful  record.  It  was  among  1 50  varieties 
tested  at  the  Ohio  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  during  the  season 
of  1905,  and  their  Bulletin,  No.  174,  says  of  this  splendid  Potato: 
"A  tall,  vigorous,  strong-growing  plant;  foliage  heavy  and  dense; 
bloom  purple;  somewhat  resistant  to  early  blight;  tubers  medium  large, 
oval  or  cylindrical,  somewhat  flattened;  color  white;  recommended 
both  for  market  and  home  use,  and  has  yielded  the  highest  of  any 
variety  in  the  test  for  the  last  three  years.  Eyes  medium  size,  quite 
deep,    and   pink." 

At  the  head  of  1  50  varieties  in  point  of  yield  for  three  successive 
seasons. 

Vermont  Gold  Coin.  —  This  is  destined  to  be  one  of  the  leading  main- 
crop  varieties,  in  that  it  is  an  exceptionally  heavy  yielder,  with  the 
table  quality  of  the  very  best.  It  has  a  fine  netted  skin,  which  gives 
it  a  yellowish  or  slightly  russet  tinge,  indicating  good  quality,  and  is 
of  fine  appearance.  In  shape,  roundish  oblong,  with  square  or  tapering 
ends  more  or  less  flattened;  eyes  medium  size  and  white.  The  Ohio 
Experiment  Station  says  of  this  variety:  "One  of  the  best  late  sorts 
of   recent   introduction   grown." 

Its   vigorous   growth,   productiveness   and   unequaled   table   quality 
made  it  one  of  the  most  popular  varieties  on  the   market. 


38  POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 

Spalding's  No.  4  Rose.  —  Especially  desirable  for  early  market-garden- 
ing; this  being  the  principal  variety  grown  in  Florida  for  early  shipment 
to  the  Northern  markets.  Tubers  average  large,  medium  length,  more 
or  less  flattened  or  oval,  and  light  pink  or  flesh  color.  Eyes  medium 
to  large  and  shallow;  of  the  Rose  type,  but  tubers  larger  and  not  so 
regular.  This  variety  is  a  heavy  yielder;  therefore  profitable,  and 
for  one  of  the  medium  sorts  of  good  table  quality. 

Early  Norther.  —  This  very  handsome  Potato  originated  in  Maine  from 
a  seed-ball  of  the  Early  Rose,  and  resembles  this  variety  in  shape 
and  color,  being  full  earlier,  averaging  larger,  and  even  more  prolific. 
It  is  fast  becoming  very  popular  as  one  of  the  leading  seed  varieties 
in  the  Middle  and  Southern  States. 

It   is   regarded   very    favorably   by   the   market   growers   by   reason 
of  its  productiveness  and   superior  quality   as   a   table  variety. 

Early  Ohio.  —  One  of  the  standard  early  varieties,  and  said  to  be  "The 
best  Potato  that  grows  in  the  ground."  A  full  week  earlier  than  the 
Early  Rose;  shape,  oblong;  quality,  dry,  mealy,  fine  texture  and  flavor. 
Excellent   cropper,    but    requires   rich   moist   soil.      In   great   demand. 

Early  Six  Weeks.  —  Said  to  be  the  earliest  Potato  now  grown,  and 
especially  recommended  for  early  market  trade.  Grown  under  favor- 
able circumstances,  they  are  ready  for  the  table  at  six  weeks  from 
date  of  planting,  and  fully  matured  at  ten  weeks.  Medium-sized, 
very  smooth-skinned,  shallow-eyed,  and  of  fine  texture;  in  color,  light 
pink. 

Fine   quality,    cooking    dry    and    mealy    as   soon   as    it   attains   even 
medium   size. 

Early  Harvest.  —  A  Maine  seedling,  and  deservedly  entitled  to  the 
name  it  bears.  An  exceedingly  handsome  white  Potato,  of  the  finest 
quality,  and  particularly  valuable  for  the  early  market  by  reason  of 
its   handsome   color   and    early    maturity. 

American  Giant.  —  American  Giant  is  one  of  the  heaviest  yielders  grown 
in  Aroostook,  and  very  profitable  for  market-gardening  on  account  of 
its  productiveness.  It  is  a  long,  white,  smooth,  handsome  potato,  with 
shoal  eyes;  a  late  keeper,  and  of  extra  good  quality  for  a  medium- 
early  variety;  now  being  grown  largely  by  the  market  gardeners  of 
New  Jersey  and  Virginia,  and  becoming  very  popular  by  reason  of 
its   enormous  yield. 

Tubers  above  the  average  as  to  size,  and  attractive  in  appearance. 

Burpee's  Extra  Early.  —  An  early  variety  that  is  becoming  quite 
popular,  being  very  productive.  The  tubers  are  of  good  size,  free 
from  scab,  oblong  in  form,  very  smooth ;  in  color,  pinkish  white.  The 
flesh  is  pure  white  and  the  quality  excellent.  It  is  regarded  as  a  sure 
cropper. 

Dakota  Red.  —  A  very  hardy,  late  variety,  not  susceptible  to  disease, 
and  can  be  planted  on  heavily  manured  ground  with  perfect  safety. 
In  color,  red,  with  deep  eyes ;  form  oval.  It  is  of  very  good  eating 
quality,   but   more   especially   for   very   late   Winter   and   Spring  use. 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP  39 

BURBANK.  —  This  variety  is  quite  largely  used  as  one  of  the  reliable  late 
Potatoes;  is  of  fair  size,  good  form  and  an  average  yielder.  It  is  a 
late   keeper   and   of   good   flavor. 

Money  Maker.  —  A  handsome,  long  white  Potato,  and  well  named  from 
the  fact  that  it  has  indeed  been  a  money  maker  to  those  growing  it; 
being  one  of  the  heaviest  yielders  and  a  splendid  main  crop  variety. 
It  is  a  remarkably  quick  grower,  resisting  drought  and  bhght  to  a 
considerable  degree. 

Peerless.  —  A  handsome  late  variety,  large  yielder,  and  profitable  all- 
around   Potato;   white   in  color   and   of   fine  appearance. 

Early  Manistee.  — A  seedling  of  the  Early  Rose  and  of  the  same  general 
description.  Said  to  be  decidedly  resistant  to  blight  and  of  remarkable 
vigor,  surpassing  other  early  kinds  in  this  particular;  good  yielder,  and 
of  especially  fine  table  quality  as  demonstrated  by  comprehensive  tests. 

SnoWFLAKE. — A  handsome  white  potato,  with  clean,  clear  skin;  shallow 
eyes  and  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  very  best  table  potato  we  carry. 
It  is  a  vigorous  grower,  with  heavy  vines,  and  among  the  tests  made 
on  our  seed  farm,  was  one  of  the  heaviest  yielders.  They  cook  almost 
as  white  as  snow;  are  well  flavored,  dry  and  mealy;  certainly  having 
the  requisites  for  an  all-round  desirable  main  crop  variety,  being  only 
medium   early. 

Harris  Snowball.  —  A  strong,  vigorous  grower.  Tubers  medium  to 
large.  Roundish  or  oblong.  Color  white,  more  or  less  russeted.  A 
late  potato,  and  does  not  sprout  early.  Fairly  prolific,  as  indicated 
by   one   season's   test. 

Pride  of  South.  —  This  variety  is  a  twin  to  the  Bliss  Triumph  in  every- 
thing except  color,  it  being  white  with  pink  eyes.  In  ripening,  the 
vines  die  down  quickly,  thus  giving  the  blight  no  chance  to  work.  It 
is  a  quick,  strong  and  vigorous  grower,  and  has  good  cooking  quality; 
used   largely   in   the   South   for   market  purposes. 

Delaware.  —  This  variety  combines  all  the  best  qualities  for  the  table 
and  is  conceded  by  all  to  be  the  finest  eating  Potato  raised  in  Aroostook 
County.  It  resembles  the  Green  Mountain  very  much  in  size,  color 
and  texture,  and  is  much  sought  after  by  dealers;  a  late  keeper  and 
a   remarkable   cropper;    medium   early. 

White  Star.  —  Medium  late,  of  good  size  and  quality,  white  in  color 
and   a  good   keeper. 

Empire  State.  —  A  good  standard  late  Potato  and  one  extensively  used 
for   late  planting;    good   yielder   and   cooker;   in   color,   white. 

X  X  Early.  —  One  of  the  early  sorts,  resembling  Early  Rose  in  color, 
but  in  form  somewhat  more  oval.  Will  bear  heavy  fertilizing,  free 
from  blight,  and  one  of  the  best  varieties  for  market-gardening  or  main 
crop. 

Crown  Jewel.  —  A  very  productive,  long,  white,  medium  early  variety, 
of  excellent  quality  and  used  largely  in  the  South  for  garden  purposes. 

I.  X.  L.  —  A  uniform  smooth  and  handsome  potato,  with  very  few  of  small 
size.  A  heavy  cropper,  vigorous  grower,  and  one  of  the  best  kinds 
of   the   reliable   Rose    family. 


40 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


Clark's  Grass  Hoe:  An  excellent  implement  for 
cultivalmg  fields  infested  with  witch  grass.  (By  courtesy  of 
The   Cutaway    Harrow   Company,    Higganum,    Conn.) 


The  Iron  Age,  No.  878:  A  practical  riding  cultivator. 
(By  courtesy  of  Bateman  Manufacturing  Company,  Grenloch, 
N.J.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


41 


Syracuse    Potato    Hoe:      For    hilling    up    or    covering. 
(By  courtesy  of  the  Syracuse  Chilled  Plow  Company,  Syracuse, 

N.  Y.) 


Syracuse  Potato  Hoe:  Fitted  with  discs  instead  of 
wings:  This  form  is  preferred  by  many  growers.  (By  courtesy 
of    the    Syracuse    Chilled    Plow    Company,    Syracuse,     N.  Y.) 


42 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


The  AsPiNWALL  Potato  Planter:  An  excellent  type 
of  "picker  planter."  (By  courtesy  of  The  Aspinwall  Manufac- 
turing Company,  Jackson,  Mich.) 


The  Iron  Age  (Improved  Robbins)  Potato  Planter: 
The  leading  planter  of  the  "platform"  type.  (By  courtesy  of 
the  Bateman  Manufacturing  Company.   Grenloch,  N.  J.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


43 


John  Deere  "K  A"  Pivot  Axle  Cultivator:  A  first 
class  riding  cultivator  for  potatoes.  (By  courtesy  of  Deere 
and  Company,   Moline,    III.) 


^SB 


Prout's  Hoe:  One  of  the  most  convenient  implements 
for  cultivating  and  hilling  up  potatoes.  Forms  a  broad,  low  hill. 
(By  courtesy  of  the  Belcher  and  Taylor  Agricultural  Tool  Co., 
Chicopee   Falls,   Mass.) 


44 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


Watson  Triplex  Potato  Sprayer:  Sprays  four  rows 
at  one  lime.  Very  largely  used  in  Maine.  (By  courtesy  of 
John  Watson  and  Company,   Houlton,   Me.) 


Four   Row   Potato   Sprayer,  with   eight   nozzles.      (By 
courtesy   of  the   Field    Force  Pump   Company,   Elmira,   N.   Y.) 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


45 


The  Hoover  Potato  Digger:  A  modern  digger  in 
every  respect.  (By  courtesy  of  the  Hoover  Manufacturing 
Company,  Avery,  Ohio.) 


J 


Planting  a  field  by  machine.    The  Iron  Age   (Improved  Robbins)    Planter  at  work. 
(By    courtesy    of    the    Baleman    Manufacturing    Company,    Grenloch,    N.  J.) 


46 


POTATOES:    A    MONEY    CROP 


'  *^-Si?A^"*i 


\  -1^  ■•■  I 

At  work   in  the  potato  field  with  the  Two-HoRSE   RiDING  CULTIVATOR.     (By  courtesy 
of     the     Bateman     Manufacturing    Company,     Grenloch,     N.  J.) 


I  -  ■  , 


Cutting  up  a  tough  sod  with  the  Cutaway  Disc  Harrow  before  plowing.  This 
helps  get  the  soil  into  condition  quickly  after  plowing.  A  heavy  sod  inverted,  forms  an 
almost  impervious  mat  that  prevents  the  upward  movement  of  soil  moisture  and  plant 
food  in  the  ground.      (By  courtesy  of  The  Cutaway  Harrow  Company,  Higganum,  Conn.) 


GOVERNMENT  STATISTICS  OF  THE 
POTATO  CROP. 


Table  73. — Average  farm  price  of  potatoes  per  bushel  on  first  of  each  month,  1911-li 


North 

So 

ith 

N. Central 

N.  Central 

South 

Far  West- 
ern States. 

Month. 

States. 

Atlantic 
States. 

Atlantic 
States. 

States  east 
of  Miss.  R. 

States  west 
of  Miss.  R. 

Central 
States. 

1912 

1911 

1912 

1911 

1912 

1911 

1912 

1911 

1912 

1911 

1912 

1911 

1912 

1911 

Cts 

Cts. 

Cts. 

CIS. 

Cts. 

r;,v. 

Cts. 

Cts. 

Cts. 

Cts. 

Cts. 

Cts. 

Cts. 

Cts. 

January 

84.5 

54.1 

94.3 

48.3 

108.4 

66.0 

74.8 

39.0 

76.1 

69.4 

119.2 

86.5 

79.4 

74.9 

February  

94  4 

55.1 

106.4 

48.2 

116  3 

72.0 

87.6 

39.6 

86.7 

69.3 

127.2 

88.9 

79.1 

78.8 

March 

102  n 

55.3 

110.8 

45.3 

126  7 

73.2 

94.5 

40.2 

97.6 

70.7 

133.9 

91.6 

88.8 

85.7 

April 

117  1 

55.5 

127.4 

45.0 

135  5 

71.4 

111.7 

40.0 

111  4 

73.4 

144.6 

89.7 

102.0 

88.4 

May 

127.3 

62.5 

136.4 

53.0 

146,2 

72.2 

117.9 

46.2 

126.5 

79.2 

155.1 

90.8 

115.5 

102.1 

June 

119.7 

63.3 

130.9 

52.9 

137  6 

70.0 

112.9 

43.9 

116.3 

81.4 

144.5 

86.0 

103.8 

117.6 

July 

103  fi 

96.3 

107.6 

74  4 

118.8 

94.0 

104.1 

74.3 

102.5 

162.2 

113.5 

124.7 

88.6 

139.9 

August 

86  5 

136.0 

93.8 

113.4 

91.9 

132.0 

88.2 

140.2 

75.5 

183.0 

93.8 

156.9 

79.9 

137.7 

September 

65,0 

113.7 

75.1 

105.5 

81.5 

123.6 

59.5 

113  3 

51.8 

126.6 

93  2 

146.2 

61.4 

107.0 

October 

51   1 

88.3 

53.5 

85.2 

76.2 

114.7 

43.7 

73.8 

42,8 

97.9 

91  2 

136.1 

53.5 

88.3 

November 

45.5 

76.3 

48.9 

78,3 

75.7 

105.4 

38.4 

60.8 

35.3 

74  1 

85.8 

119  8 

46.2 

77.0 

December 

50.5 

79.9 

58.8 

88.5 

69  0 

103.9 

44.1 

71.9 

41.5 

68.8 

82  7 

114.1 

43  2 

78.5 

Table  68. — Acreage,  production,  and  value  of  potatoes,  by  States,  1912. 


State  and 
division. 


Acreage 


Produc-      Farm   value 
tion.  Dec.  1. 


Acres. 

Maine 117,000 

N.Hampshire...  17,000 

Vermont 26,000 

Massachusetts. .  .  26,000 

Rhode  Island ....  5,000 

Connecticut 23,000 

New  York 360,000 

New  Jersey 92,000 

Pennsylvania. .  .  .  265,000 


Bushels. 

23,166,000 
2,380,000 
3,640,000 
3,380,000 
565,000 
2,461,000 

38,160,000 
9,936,000 

28,885,000 


Dollars. 

12,741,000 
1,452,000 
2,002,000 
2,535,000 
435,000 
1,920,000 

22,133,000 
6,558,000 

16,464,000 


N.  Atlantic. 


931,000     112,573,000       66,240,000 


24,182,000       16,695,000 


Delaware 11,000  1,100,000  770,000 

Maryland 37,000  4, 144,000  2,404,000 

Virginia ;  95,000  8,265,000  5,372,000 

West  Virginia ..  .  47,000  5,264,000  3,264,000 

North  Carolina.  .  30,000  2,550,000  1,938,000 

South  Carolina.  .  10,000  900,000  1,008,000 

Georgia         12,000  936,000  814,000 

Florida 11,000  1,023,000  1,125,000 

S.Atlantic 253,000 

Ohio 186,000  20,832,000  11,041,000 

Indiana 87,000  9,918,000  4,959,000 

Illinois 137,000  13,837,000  8.302,000 

Michigan 350,000  36,750,000  15,068,000 

Wisconsin 291,000  34,920,000  11,873,000 

N.  C.  E.  of  Miss. 

River 1,051,000 

Minnesota 245,000  33,075,000  9,261,000 

Iowa 174,000  ,     18,966,000  ,      8,724,000 

Missouri 95,000  j      7,980,000  5,506,000 


116,257,000       51,243,000 


State  and 
division. 


North  Dakota. 
South  Dakota. 

Nebraska 

Kansas 


Acreage.      Produc-     Farm  value 
tion.  Dec.  1. 


Acres. 
52,000 
62,000 

118,000 
70,000 


Bushels. 
6,656,000 
6,510,000 
9,440,000 
5,740,000 


Dollars. 
1,864,000 
2,344,000 
4,814,000 
4,190,000 


816,000       88,367.000  :      36,703,000 


N.     C.     W.    of 
Miss.  River.  . 

Kentucky  51,000  5,151,000  3,451,000 

Tennessee  38,000  I  3,344,000  2,341,000 

Alabama         .  .  .  15,000  1,215,000  1,094,000 

Mississippi    ....  10,000  890,000  801,000 

Louisiana       .  .  .  20,000  1,460,000  1.212  000 

Texas  52,000  3,276,000  3,440,000 

Oklahoma 29,000  .1,740,000  1,618,000 

Arkansas 25,000  |  1,750,000  1,610,000 

S.  Central 240,000 

Montana.          .  .  37,000  6,105,000  2,442,000 

Wyoming  11,000  1,540,000  924,000 

Colorado   .'.'....  85,000  8,075,000  3,311,000 

New  Mexico       .  9,000  900,000  585,000 

Arizona     ......  1,000  i  125,000  156,000 

Utah  19,000  !  3,515,000  1,722,000 

Nevada""    '  12,000  i  2,136,000  1,282,000 

Idaho     " "  35,000  6,475,000  i        1,878,000 

Washington....  68,000:  11,356,000  1        4,088,000 

Oregon  65,000  10,075,000  3,123,000 

California  "  '  .  .  78,000  10,140,000  6,591,000 


18,826,000         15,567,000 


Far  Western . 
United  States 


420,000 


3,711,000 


60,442,000 


420,647,000 


26,102,000 


212,550,000 


Tari.e  71. —  Yield  per  acre,  price  per  bushel,  and  value  per  acre  of  potatoes,  by  States. 


Yield  per  acre. 


10-year  averages. 


State  and 
division. 


Farm  price  per  bushel. 


10-year  averages  j 
for  Dec.  1       ! 


o   i  ^ 


Quarterly,  1912. 


Bu.    Bit.  Bu.    Bu.    Bu.    Bu.    Bu.    Cts.  Cts.  Cts.  Cts.  Cts.l  Cts.    Cts.    Cts.  Cts.Cts.  Dolls 


135  58!  58   64.96 

120  75  65   56.65 

128i     151|  71j  62:  69.44 

115     137  73  76  64.60 

159  135  112100.80 


90      91     81     86   105    105     122 

78i'  109     86     83i  100    105^     110     132     1531  110]     %T  67.86 

93...      90   100    119  100     145     158     138  115    110102.30 


S.Atlantic.        74.964.8   68.8'  79.6   94.2  50. 1^  95.6  62. 860. 657. 569. 766. o!l03. 9  126.7  137.681.569.01  65.99 


Ohio. 
Ind.. 
111.... 
Mich . 
Wis.. 


70' 

76  74; 

84|  78 

86  82' 


N.  C.  E.  Miss.: 

River 79.4i74.2 


6  92.0  85.6110.6  53. 248. 444.5151. 0:41.0  71.9  94.5 


94 
93     80 


Minn 

Iowa 

Mo 78i    72 

N.  Dak 

S.  Dak 

Nebr 

Kans 


85 

85; 

91     75 

87[    69 


N.C.W.  Miss. 
River 


Ky... 
Tenn. 
Ala... 
Miss. 
La..  . 
Tex. . 
Okla. 
Ark.. 


87.7  78.1 


73  63 

80,  62 

751  64 

78'  65 

70;  64 

91  64 


65!     112i:  57|  54  51  59  51 

58'     114!  56'  52  53  601  50! 

50     101  58  52  56  64  59 

105  53  44  37  44 

120  46  44  37  45  38 


115'     135      40     38     34     44'     64' 
74     109     42     43     44     53     60 


114     138     80  53  59.36 

1161     1381    71  50  57.00 

66  60;  60.60 

58  41  43.05 

50  34  40.80 


59.544.1  48.76 

36|    28i  37.80 

73     110     126     65     46,  50.14 

51j    48i    50     62     68     102,     1251     146!    67|    691  57.96 


.  39  36  46  91  55'  78  98 

.1  39,  42  49,  85  70;  931  128 

80l|     431  44  55  55  841  92|  124  149 

82      59  63  59  73  90  1061  132  162 


87i     70 


S.  Central. 


76.463.8   63.5 


83.0   63.8  73.8108.3  45.345.944.652.970.8   68.8   97.6116.351.841.5 


49  28  35.84 
62  36  37.80 
40.80 


73     51 
73     73 


Mont 104 

Wyo 92| 

Colo ;  21201    82 

N.  Mex I    78' 

Ariz I     66J 

Utah I     87 

Nev 104     91 

Idaho 95 

Wash '  \m 

Oreg 115     98 

Cal 116    89! 


101"     55     52     54     65     62     107 
88      54     52     56     67     65     108 

81;1  100     87;     84     95     94     118:     145i 


59.86 


44.98 


98     84; 
73     95     85     81 
63i'  123!     90!     90     97;  110     1261     140 


92     94     115'     144 
90     100,     105 


Far  Western. 
U.S 


67  67.67 
70  61.60 
90  72.90 
90i  80.10 
83  60.59 
1051  66.15 
93  55.80 
921  64.40 


64.86 

111  70     40!  66  00 

201  95     60  84.00 

1561  801     41!  38.95 

152  140     65   65.00 

140  115    125156.25 

143  61     49   90.65 


132    130 

88!     60, 


75 
75' 
121t 


60106.80 
29  53.65 
36  60.12 
31  48.05 
65i  84.50 


113.694.0,102.0129.2116.9115.1143.988.860.449.059.371.8,  78.5  88.8103.861.443.2;  62.15 
76.5   76.4'  91.4'  93.8   80.9113.4;54.  r51.248, 157T4!55.7   79.9'l02.0  119.  7'65~050.5'  57.28 


87.9 


'  Basis,  Dec.  1  price.         «  The  Territories. 


K^:- 


u 


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M-Oh 


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GRAND    SWEEPSTAKES     TROPHY  ^^^^^^ ^o s™^^^ 

jILVbK  LUr) 

FOR  BEST  STATE  EXHIBIT  OF  POTATOES 

Compeht'ion  open  to  the  entire  United  States  and  Canada 

Won  hy  The  E.  L  Cleveland  Co.,  Houlton,  Me.,  at  the  New  York  Land  Show,  1912 

Users  of  E.  FRANK  COE  FERTILIZERS 

Manufactured  only  by  THE  COE-MORTIMER  COMPANY,  5  1  Chambers  St.,  New  York 


